Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Stitched Commemorative Postcards

Mr. Peacock found these three “embroidered” postcards tucked in a box of junk at the Alameda Flea Market a few years ago. These charming kitschy cards were probably someone’s souvenirs from a bygone vacation in Portugal. Each printed postcard is embellished with bright stitching and sandwiched with a blank paper to hide the backside of loose threads, so you can write a message on the backside and mail it. Surprisingly, the cards aren’t too bulky with the machine stitching and layers of paper. They all three have the same artist signature, which I can’t decipher. I’m guessing these souvenir cards were produced in the late 1960’s or early 1970’s. Mr. Peacock also likes the scalloped edges.

Toureio A Cavalo (Bullfighting on horseback) shows a Portuguese bull fighter, standing in the forefront, dressed in his finest attire. His outfit, minus the boots and hat, are all stitched over the illustration.

Mr. Peacock’s favorite stitched card is Galo de Barcelos (Rooster of Barcelos). This rooster has become somewhat of a Portuguese a national symbol, symbolizing “The winning of justice, when you fight for it.”

The third card, Algarve Infantal (Algarve child) has two boys and a girl dressed in what I assume is the national costumes of the Algarve region in Portugal. The girl’s dress and headscarf are stitched, and one of the boys is playfully winking.

Mr. Peacock loves these two vintage stitched cards (above and below) on eBay right now, click here and here. They're stitched on a piece silk and sandwiched between cardstock. These momentoes from WW1 would look very charming in small frames.

You never know what unknown treasure you're going to find in someone's box of junk. What was the last treasure you found?

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