Casgliadau Arlein

Embroidered panel 'Souvenir of Alexandria 1916'. Made in 1916 by Reginald Clancy, of Pentrych, in Alexandria during First World War.

Chain-stitch embroidery in multi-coloured floss silk threads on a cream silk satin ground. Inscription and date carried out in dark pink. In the centre is a card, printed with a scroll bearing the words to two stanzas of the National Anthem. Above is a portrait of the King George V, set within an oval frame, bearing a crown above and a scroll with the written inscription of the King's name and the words 'Crowned June 22nd 1911'. The scroll is flanked by two flags: the Royal Standard on the left and Union Flag on the right. The rectangular card (portrait format) is held in position with chain-stitch embroidery using metal thread (tarnished to black but formerly silver).

The card is surrounded by embroidered floral sprigs with red and blue five petal blossoms and a large purple bow tying the sprigs together at the bottom, underneath the card. The thread used for the floral sprigs and blossoms is dyed in such a way that the green, blue and red change in hue / intensity. There are blue and grey pencil marks that draft out the design. The marks are visible and are not covered by stitches in places.

The selvage of the cream satin ground fabric is showing on the proper left side edge. The edges are raw and the satin has been adhered to a thin card back board. There are markings on the reverse of the board that indicate that the piece was once framed: there are corrosion marks at intervals along the edges of the board that probably originate from nails that would have held the board in place. There are also remains of brown paper and stains in the form of brush marks (adhesive).