| FRENCH-MADE TEXTILE CELEBRATING AMERICAN INVOLVEMENT IN WWI (1917-1918), WITH AN EAGLE SUPPORTING KNOTTED & DRAPED FLAGS, BENEATH FOUR WAR PLANES, WITH ELABORATE EMBROIDERY & BULLION EMBELLISHMENT |
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| Web ID: | pat-535 |
| Available: | In Stock |
| Frame Size (H x L): | 37" x 41.25" |
| Flag Size (H x L): | 28" x 32" |
| Description: | |
| Franco-American patriotic textile, made in France at the end of WWI (U.S. involvement 1917-1918), to celebrate American participation and the perpetual bond between the two nations. Oval in shape, the imagery and decoration were embroidered and embellished with a combination of silk floss, metallic bullion thread and trimmings, on a silk ground. The central device consists of a spread-winged eagle, gripping American and French banners, knotted together to display solidarity. These appear in a draped and billowing format, that follows the oval perimeter. The artistic strength of the presentation, the quality of the textured embroidery, and the extraordinary trim, prominently illustrate warplanes, in the first such conflict where they played a role. Rays of sunshine rise from above the Union of banners, to symbolizes a new dawn in the wake of Allied victory. These reach into a symbolic sky with four war planes, interspersed with laurel leaves. Sold as a pillow top, table cover, or simply as a decorative whimsey to frame and display. The French were master producers of bullion notions of this sort, and Paris had been the hub of production for more than 150 years. While I have seen numerous works of the same general sort, no two are alike in my experience. The presence of aircraft in WWI imagery, on a decorative object, especially a textile, is extremely rare. Their design is likely to have been based on French monoplane models that began production in 1911, by Morane (the Morane-Borel “Parasol” or “Type A”), and which won a race from Paris – Madrid in that year. One of the fastest designs of this very early era, within commercial aeronautics, the closely related Morane-Saulnier “Type L” saw use at least as early as 1914, the war’s opening year in Europe and three years before America joined the fray. Sold to Britain, and produced under license in Germany, they saw service in both Allied & Axis operations. Mounting: For 25 years we have maintained our own textile conservation department, led by a master’s degree level graduate from one of the nation’s top programs. We take great care in the mounting and preservation of flags and related textiles and have preserved thousands of examples. The textile was mounted and framed by us in-house. The background is 100% cotton twill, black in color, that has been washed and treated for colorfastness. The mount was then placed in a black-painted, hand-gilded and distressed Italian molding. The glazing is U.V. protective acrylic (Plexiglas). Feel free to contact us for more details. Condition: There is extremely minor oxidation, but there are no significant condition issues. here are no significant condition issues. |
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| Video: | |
| Collector Level: | Intermediate-Level Collectors and Special Gifts |
| Flag Type: | |
| Star Count: | |
| Earliest Date of Origin: | 1917 |
| Latest Date of Origin: | 1918 |
| State/Affiliation: | |
| War Association: | WW 1 |
| Price: | Please call (717) 676-0545 or (717) 502-1281 |
| E-mail: | info@jeffbridgman.com |
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