Silver Jubilee 1977

 

Of Card mount: cm deep by cm wide
Of Silk picture: cm deep by cm wide

The silk portrait of Her Majesty was a copy of the 1955 oil painting by Pietro Annigoni. It was a limited edition of 500, and after these were woven the original jacquard loom cards were destroyed.

The silk was woven by CARTWRIGHT & SHELDON, as a commission for GREAT HOUSE TAPESTRIES, who were responsible for the design.

Each portrait had a back label giving the issue number (of 500). There was also a second label attached, although there was at least two different versions. It would appear as if these silk picture were issued either framed behind glass, or contained in a fold over cover to enable the purchaser to frame the silk themselves.

The printed words of the back label attached to the fold over cover version state that the actual title of this silk " SILVER JUBILEE 1977 " is woven below the portrait, but has been deliberately concealed by the card mount.

close up of the back labels:
	back label attached to every copy of this silk:   SILVER JUBILEE 1977    Woven in Pure Silk, this reproduction of  Pietro Annigoni's 1955 portrait of Her Majesty  Queen Elizabeth II is to commemorate the 25th  anniversary of her accession to the throne.    When 500 copies of this design had been  woven the weaving pattern cards were destroyed.    I declare this to be copy number xxx.                                   K. J. Godbert
	alternative back label giving name of Cartwright & Sheldon as the weaver, and Great House Tapestries as the designers
	alternative back label giving name of Great House Tapestries it does not mention Cartwright & Sheldon