Indianapolis Pillow Sham Appraisal

Vintage Indianapolis Souvenir Pillow Sham with Racing and Landmark Graphics

This is a vintage souvenir pillow sham or coverlet from Indianapolis, Indiana, likely dating from the mid-1960s to early 1970s. The item is constructed from a dark navy or black felt-like fabric, featuring a square shape with a bright yellow or gold fringe border along all four edges. The design is screen-printed in multiple vibrant colors, including red, white, yellow, and green. The top portion celebrates the Indianapolis 500 motor race, depicting two vintage-style open-wheel race cars flanking crossed checkered flags, a series of signaling flags, and the number '500'. Below this is the text 'INDIANAPOLIS, IND.' in a curved red font. The central and lower portions of the sham feature a montage of five major local landmarks: the World War Memorial, the State Capitol, the Sailors and Soldiers Monument, the City-County Building, and Clowes Hall. Each landmark is illustrated in a detailed, illustrative style with bold outlines and localized color accents. The City-County Building, which was completed in 1962, and the depiction of Clowes Hall (opened 1963) help date the piece to the post-1963 era. The condition appears fair to good; there is visible creasing throughout the fabric and slight fading to the screen-printed colors. The fringe is mostly intact but shows minor tangling. No significant stains, holes, or frayed edges are immediately apparent in the photograph, though the fabric shows a slight texture indicative of age and handling.