Monday, March 26, 2012

Object of the Day: A Tobacco Silk of Queen Mary

from the collection of Joseph Crisalli

Much like Cigarette Cards, “tobacco silks” were premium items which were inserted into packages of cigarettes as “freebies.”  Meant to be collected, these silks were either hand-colored or color-printed and depicted fashionable scenes or portraits of popular people of the era.  These items flourished from about 1908 to 1916 and were joined by tobacco flannels and leathers as well.

This tobacco silk was produced in Britain between 1910 and 1911 for the coronation of King George V and Queen Mary.  Here, we see H.M. Queen Mary dressed exquisitely in the sort of pale gown for which she became famous.  She wears, in addition to some of her favorite jewelry and her garter badges, the Russian Fringe Tiara.

I don’t know which tobacco company produced this item, but it’s a lovely addition to the many other images of Queen Mary which pepper my home.  






Do you want to see Mary of Teck's noble visage in your daily life?  You can.  Take a look at our "Teck Support" designs in our online store.  


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