Families with loved ones at war often awaited the arrival of the mail with trepidation. What news would come? If they didn’t hear from their son or husband for a while, what did that mean? Was he injured, or worse? Postcards and letters received from men at the front provided some relief. After all, if he’s writing, he’s alive! Sometimes there was even something special in the post – like an embroidered silk postcard from France.
Postcard, World War One, 1916, France. Mataura Historical Society (MT2012.33.1)
Embroidered silk postcards were first made in France for the Paris Exposition in 1900. However, they reached their peak of popularity during WWI as servicemen snapped them up to send home to their loved ones. Their beauty and novelty value must have appealed, contrasting with the harsh realities of war.
Postcard, World War One, 1917-8, France. Mataura Historical Society (MT2014.1.3)
Embroidered silk postcard production was a thriving war-time industry – it is estimated that 10 million cards were produced during WWI. The embroidery was carried out mainly by French and Belgian women working from their own homes or in refugee camps. Designs were hand-embroidered on to strips of silk mesh or organza, with as many as 25 on a strip. Once embroidered, the silk strips were sent to factories for cutting and mounting on to postcards. The cards either had a flat back, or sometimes space for a tiny greeting card to be inserted into the back.
Postcard, c.1916, Europe. Owaka Museum (CT78.966b)
Images on the postcards often included pretty flowers and birds, and patriotic symbols like flags and regimental badges. They were a beautiful souvenir to send to mothers and wives waiting at home.
Silk embroidered postcard, c.1914-1918.
As the war progressed and demand for the postcards increased, the embroidery was done by machine, and later in factories. The quality of the later cards was not as high as the earlier, hand-embroidered versions.
Demand for silk postcards declined after the war, and production ceased in 1923. During WWII simple, machine-made versions were produced, but these never gained the popularity of their WWI counterparts. Silk postcards are a fascinating example of a cottage industry sustained by a world at war.
References:
Guide to the Silk Postcard collection, Australian War Memorial Research Centre (2000).
Discover: Silk Embroidered Postcards, The Library of Birmingham.
Tamara Patten, Communications Officer, National Services Te Paerangi
Methven historical society have some of these. Gifted recently.. Please advise how to store them .? Need scanning for records.
Hi Angela,
Sounds great, I hope they will get shared on this website at some stage! We can certainly provide some advice on storage for the postcards – send us an email telling us a bit more about what you’d like to know and we’ll come back to you.
Tamara