Stevengraph of Robert Burns - 19th Century

Of Scottish interest! Robert Burns (1759-1796), as the national poet of Scotland, needs no introduction, and is still as popular today as when this portrait was produced. The portrait itself is in black and white, but it has the charming touch of green and purple thistles below the neckline. 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. 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.