Object ID
2005.26.2
Object Name
Hanging
Date Created
1928
Measurements
38.1 cm. H x 29.464 cm. W, Item (Overall)
Material
Cotton; Paper; Velvet
Object Entities
Intern, Collections (collected by)
Kostival, Stamata (created by)
Kotsiakos, Stamatia (created by)
Object Description
Embroidered cross with overlapping heart, and anchor below on a dark blue velvet background. Multi-colored geometric and symmetrical design, decorated with sequins, snowflake patterns and patterns of the sun's rays. The cross is red and yellow with a green patch at the center. The heart is pink and beige and embroidered with a cross-hatch pattern. Attached to the bottom of the cross is a pink and red nautical anchor. Around the cross, anchor, snowflakes and border design there are decorative white, black, red and purple sequins. Framing the piece are two parallel lines (of red and light pink thread) with a zig-zag pattern.

The tan paper backing for the velvet is cracked in several places. Written on the back is Chris and Stamatia Kotsiakos. Also the back bears a manufacturer's mark:
Speciality Factory
Trifonos P. Sotiripoulou's Frames - Mirrors and Silver Plates
Kilograms Square
Triplets
Origin
Embroidered by Georgia Kotsiakos' Mother, Stamatia Kotsiakos, who arrived to Chicago in 1928.

We are not sure as to who actually created this hanging, but perhaps Stamatia purchased the velvet backing/background from this manufacturer and then did the embroidering herself.

Significance of design: It may have a significance in terms of its affiliation with Christians as spiritual anchor of their faith. Jesus Christ is their anchor. Specifically the anchor may have ties to the Roman persecution of Christians around 400 AD when followers need to be covert in their worship.

The words anchor may also may be a play on words in Greek. "Ankura," meaning anchor, is similar to "en kurio" which meaning in the lord However, when official language of Christianity changed from Greek to Latin starting in the third and fourth centuries CE, the anchor's usage as a symbol may have started to fade.

This combination of heart, cross and anchor may all be tied to Christianity and the anchor's historic use as a secret symbol for Christians. The combination and its significance in the 1920s still need further research though.
Rights and Reproduction
The content on this site is made available for research and education purposes only. The use of these materials may be restricted by law or the donor.

Any other use, such as exhibition, publication, or commercial use, is not allowed except by written permission in accordance with the NHM Image Rights and Reproduction Policy.

For questions on image rights and reproduction, please contact nhmcollections@hellenicmuseum.org
Citation
Hanging, 1928, National Hellenic Museum, https://collections.nationalhellenicmuseum.org/Detail/objects/6373. Accessed 03/28/24.