Bidspirit auction | 1889 Pair of Framed Brotherhood

1889 Pair of Framed Brotherhood of Railroad Brakemen Bullion Embroideries - A pair of framed textile panels featuring hand-worked metallic bullion embroidery relating to the Brotherhood of Railroad Brakemen. One panel displays a circular emblem designed as a six-spoke wheel. The embroidery consists of metallic thread characters including OF at the top, a B on the left and right sides, and RR at the bottom. The date 18 is worked into the lower left corner and 89 into the lower right corner. The second panel contains three lines of text reading Miami, Lodge, and No. 273, with a small decorative floral sprig to the left of the word Lodge. The embroidery is executed in metallic bullion thread over a raised red textile padding, mounted onto a brown silk ground. The Brotherhood of Railroad Brakemen was a significant early American labor union founded in 1883; the date of 1889 marks the year the organization transitioned its name to the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen. Historical records identify Miami Lodge No. 273 as being located in Dayton, Ohio. Both panels are housed in modern oak-finish wooden frames under glass with brown mats. Based on the ruler in photos 9 and 10, the frames measure approximately 10 inches wide by 8 inches tall. Both pieces show significant age-related wear. The brown silk background fabric is severely shattered, with numerous tears, losses, and fraying throughout both panels, most notably around the heavy embroidery (photos 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8). The red textile padding is visible through these fabric losses. There is noticeable overall discoloration, fading, and staining to the silk grounds. The metallic bullion threads show surface oxidation and tarnish. The modern wooden frames exhibit minor surface scuffs.