#1 • British WWI Era Royal Navy Sweetheart Pin Cushion: HMS Dolphin

Part of TRENCH ART & WWI Memorabilia (live auction by Bannerman Auctions)

High bid $30.00

Status: Sold

Category: Britain

British WWI Era Royal Navy Sweetheart Pin Cushion: HMS Dolphin. These were available in kit form, allowing the serviceman constructing it to incorporate unit insignia and woven or embroidered sentiments of his own choice.  When they turn up they are normally attributed to WWI, but there were a few of them in the Kimball Trench Art collection with Queen's crowns and Boer War battle honors lacking for units that would have had them, demonstrating that the practice was well under way before Queen Victoria assumed room temperature in 1901.   This particular example measures roughly 23cm along each dimension, heart-shaped, and features a woven ribbon with the insignia and motto of HMS Dolphin.  Multicolor beads mounted by pins form two fouled anchors and the sentiment "Forget Me Not", on a royal blue corded cotton field with beadwork edge border and natural cotton backing.  Shows wear and age, but not abuse.   HMS Dolphin was a screw sloop-of-war launched in 1882, serving as a warship, and later as a seagoing training vessel.  In 1912 she became a submarine depot ship.  Dolphin was under tow to Leith where she was to become a museum ship in 1925 where she foundered in the Firth of Forth.  Raised and repaired, she was converted to a nautical college school ship and was eventually broken up in 1977. Estimate: $60 - $100