Stevengraph - Baden Powell "Prince of Scouts & Hero of Mafeking" 1900

Stevengraphs are pictures woven in silk, invented by Thomas Stevens ca 1862. In 1862 Stevens had four designs but over 900 by the late 1880s. They were mostly bookmarks or greetings cards, some portraits as in this example, and others scenes like (famously) Lady Godiva or hunting or military scenes. The registration number on the silk, lower left, dates the design to 1900. This example is in its original mount on which is printed "Woven in pure silk by T Stevens, Coventry". The frame is also glazed verso to show the original advertising material of other Stevengraphs then available. Baden Powell is now best known as the founder of the Scout movement, but he became famous for his role in the seige of Mafeking in the Boer War, 1899-1902, where he held out against a larger Boer force for 217 days until relieved. During the siege Baden-Powell first used boys as "Scouts", taking messages and assisting in duties around the town. His hero status enabled him to start the Scout Movement a few years later.