Included in this lot is a Westminster Tobacco Cigarette Silks Fan Decorated Pillow, circa Post-WW II, shadow box framed. One of the most popular of the tobacco inserts or premiums was the tobacco or cigarette “silk”. While they are called silks, they were actually made from a variety of fabrics such as silk or silk satin, a cloth combination of silk and cotton, a cotton sateen or even a plain woven cotton. Although the original purpose of cigarette cards was to protect the cigarettes from damage, tobacco companies around the world soon realised the cigarette cards' value as collectables and started producing picture cards for smokers to collect to encourage brand loyalty. In North America between 1900 and 1936 silk cigarette cards, or inserts, were produced by tobacco companies as calculated promotional giveaways for men to pass on to women. Silks came printed in dozens of themes and in series formats. Very often the designs were the same types of designs as those seen on the cigarette cards. Themes included floral designs of every type, flags of all the different nations of the world, American Indian motifs including the great Indian Chiefs, popular actresses and actors, bathing beauties, Kings and Queens of the countries of Europe, animals of all types, and military themes with soldiers and medals from many countries, just to name a few. The silks came in different sizes and could be sewn together to make quilts or larger pictures. This blue satin pillow is the backdrop for vintage Westminster Tobacco flag silks. The perimeter has three separate groups of four flags each; the center section are flags in the design of an opened Chinese fan. A Westminster Tobacco cigarette pack design is located in both upper corners. The pillow is professionally mounted in a gold gilt wood box frame. Frame is in very fine condition, very slight scuffing to frame edges. No other obvious marring noted. Measures 29.75"W x 34.75"L