Bag (Sea bag)

Description

Winterthur founder Henry Francis du Pont (1880–1969) had a special love for textiles and needlework. Among the extraordinary examples in the collection is the linen sea bag of a 19th-century sailor named Warren Opie. The ability to sew was invaluable in the age of sailing ships. Skill with a needle and thread was necessary for mending sails but was also important for decorative work. Opie's embroidery reflects pride in his family, home, and country. Among the additions to his sea bag are the names of family members, his hometown, and a series of appliquéd blue stars.