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  “COLUMBIA VICTORIOUS” BANNER FEATURING LADY LIBERTY, HAND-PAINTED ON SATIN IN THE MANNER OF THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY ILLUSTRATORS, DATED 1917 (WWI), PROBABLY ANDREA BUCCINI, NEW YORK
Dimensions (inches):
Description:
Patriotic banner entitled "Columbia Victorious", signed A. Buccini, N.Y.C., and dated “19©19”. This beautiful textile is reminiscent of the great illustrators of the time, is painted on satin silk, and is highly unusual among known works of this nature. Large scale patriotic banners of any early period are extremely scarce, especially those of such outstanding quality. Illustrated here is a striking variation of Lady Liberty (aka Lady Columbia, Goddess of Liberty) holding a peace branch and an American flag, surrounded by doves. Note in particular the transparency of the dress and how well it was handled.

The title appears in pencil on the reverse and the signature is painted on the front in the lower right corner. The artist is likely Alberta Buccini (1900-1933), who appears to have two documented works. One of these is a mate to this banner, which I advertised in The Magazine Antiques in April of 2009. Signed “Buccini Studios” and dated “19©17”, it is executed on the same fabric and in the same general format. It shows Lady Liberty in a different stance, holding a long horn bugle, and was entitled "A Call to the Colors". Together the two works bracket U.S. involvement in WWI. [70" x 38.5"] The other was also painted on a long, narrow panel, but was not of a patriotic nature. Instead it contained various capricious figures amid festoons of drapes and flowers.

Mounting: The banner has been hand-stitched to 100% hemp fabric. It was then placed in a hand-gilded and distressed Italian molding with a carved leaf design. The front is u.v. protective acrylic.

Condition: There are various minor paint losses that have resulted from the banner having been rolled for many years, and there is some water staining, but the overall condition is nothing short of extraordinary for a textile of this nature. When compared to other large scale painted banners, it scores as near to “10” as any known examples that have survived from the mid-20th century and prior.
   
Primary Color: red, white, blue, brown
Earliest Date: 1919
Latest Date: 1919
For Sale Status: Sold
Price SOLD
E-mail: info@jeffbridgman.com
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