This flag is just one
of two antique American flags that I'm aware of where
the stripes of the flag are made from a patterned
material. This particular flag, and the British
Union Jack flag that accompanies it, were made in France
during World War II to welcome American and British
soldiers who liberated the region. A note
regarding the flags from the person who located them in
France indicates that: "Regarding the flags, I asked
the sellers for more information. They told me that both
flags belonged to a friend of family Sir Andre Gauthier
who lived in the small city of St Aubin de Blaye close
to the famous Bordeaux city well known for its wine and
he passed away." The use of the thick brocaded
material, possibly made from drapes or other household
decorative fabrics, is evidence of the austere
conditions and make-do qualities often seen on these
flags, which were made in a time and place that was
witness to utter devastation.
Like many liberation
flags made in France during this time, the number of
stars and stripes is stylized, either due to a lack of
materials or the maker having only a general knowledge
of the style of an American flag, but not the precise
details of the contemporary number of stars and stripes.
This flag has a rare count of 16 stars and 15 stripes.
The hand cut and
sewn stars, hand stitching, blue hoist, narrow white
stripes, and
wide red red stripes all
contribute
to
one of the folkiest
French-made Liberation
flags one can witness.
These liberation flags
still surface occasionally, but they are very difficult
to locate. Pairs of American and British flags, or
even sets of three flags--American, British and
French--are very scarce.
Collectively, they
represent their own subgroup of rare American flags.
They embody the great sacrifices made by those allied
soldiers who liberated Europe and the great appreciation
of those who people
were so dramatically liberated from the horrors of the
Nazi regime.
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The British Union Jack counterpart
Liberation Flag, made of the same materials
with red brocade stripes. |
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