Another example of commemorative embroidery pattern I was not familiar with…..Most likely done for a Tientsin Marine, north China during Butlers time leading the China Expedition. This style of high quality needlework and design would later be used for embroidery photo albums popular with North China Marines in  the decade that followed….this is the earliest example of this type I have seen to date.

Man, Dirk, that's a beauty. Is this a wall hanger? Doesn't appear to be a photo album cover in its present form

On 6/28/2026 at 2:02 PM, Brig said:

Man, Dirk, that's a beauty. Is this a wall hanger? Doesn't appear to be a photo album cover in its present form

Sorry Brig I missed your comment yesterday…..it’s a stand alone wall hanger….bigger then a photo album cover as well….but smaller then a full sized embroidery….made to market to the China  Expedition Marines 

Beautiful piece! Thank you for sharing! 

The workmanship that went into these is exceptional.  Thanks for sharing this early, beautiful piece with us here to enjoy.  Can't be too many older than the 1927 date on this bad boy!

Thank you Brian! The general idea padded of padded embroidery marketed to foreign militaries had been around since the late 1890’s but these Marine themed ones are far scarcer than  those for the navy….and this one must have been designed to capture the Market of Marines arriving in Shanghai and Tientsin which the embroidery markers were quick to jump on 

Dirk, would make sense there are fewer USMC than USN since I would guess there were far less Marines during this time to "shop" while on duty stations in China. Either way, these Chinese made items (flags, silver items, smalls, etc.) are just done with such care and detail that it sets them apart IMHO. I love the 3-D look to the eagles feathers on these works. Must have taken the craftsmen some time to hand embroider something like this, which makes them all the more beautiful in my eyes! Great piece, among many in your collection Dirk.