Jeff Bridgman Antique Flags
Sold Flags



  WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE PENNANT IN AN EXTREMELY RARE FORMAT THAT FEATURES A SUFFRAGETTE TAKING THE POSE OF LADY COLUMBIA OR LADY JUSTICE, 1910-1920

Available: Sold
Frame Size (H x L): 19.5" x 39.5"
Flag Size (H x L): 9.5" x 27.5"
Description....:
Triangular, felt, suffragette pennant with a green and violet color scheme. In the violet register, toward the fly end, is printed white lettering that reads: "Votes for Women." In the green register, to the left, along the hoist, is a six-color printed image of a woman with a flowing, Grecian gown, with one hand on an American patriotic federal shield and the other holding a staff with an open laurel wreath. Before the wreath is text that reads "Equal Rights." The figure is presumably a Suffragette taking the pose of Lady Liberty (aka, Lady Columbia or the Goddess of Liberty) and the symbolism seems to suggest that only with equal rights comes the desired crown. Her hair is up, but she presently wears none--only a white band.

Violet and green were the traditional colors of the women's movement in England, but these can be seen as well in certain American objects, especially those used by Women's Political Union, organized by American suffragette leader Harriot Eaton Stanton Blatch (1856-1940), daughter of abolitionist Henry B. Stanton and suffrage pioneer Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Born in the U.S., Harriot move to England for 20 years and, upon her return, organized American working women, introducing the colors and some of the artwork of the English movement to distinguish her group from others.

Suffragette banners and pennants are particularly scarce and sought-after. This one is extremely rare. It is the only example that I am aware of in the violet and green color scheme. One other, in black and yellow, with the figure wearing a dress that is the same shade of blue as used in the shield and the staff, is documented in "The Keynoter: Journal of the American Political Items Conservators," Summer/Fall/Winter 2008 (Women's Suffrage Special Triple Issue), Volume 2008, Number 2-4, p.134.

Construction: Printed panels of felt, joined with machine stitching. The violet and green registers are joined with a zigzag machine stitch. There is an applied felt binding along the hoist, white in color, with two sets of violet felt ties.

Mounting: The pennant has been hand-stitched to a background of 100% cotton twill, black in color, which was washed to reduce excess dye. The black fabric was washed to reduce excess dye. An acid-free agent was added to the wash to further set the dye and the fabric was heat-treated for the same purpose. The mount was then placed in a very dark brown molding, almost black, with red highlights and a cove profile, to which a gilded liner was added, light gold in color. The glazing is U.V. protective plexiglass.

Condition: There is significant fading of the violet and green felt. Many of my clients prefer early flags and banners to show their age and history of use. The rarity of this example well-warrants the condition.
Collector Level: Advanced Collectors and the Person with Everything
Flag Type:
Star Count:
Earliest Date of Origin: 1910
Latest Date of Origin: 1920
State/Affiliation:
War Association:
Price: SOLD
 

Views: 2453