Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Vintage flags with hidden meanings

This is a link to a short piece on the BBC from a five minute interview with my friend and fellow dealer, Jeff Bridgman, an expert on American folk art and American flags.


Until 1912, the American flag had no official design. The arrangement and appearance of the stars was up to the maker, and some designed their flags to carry hidden messages.
Antique flag expert Jeff Bridgman shows art historian Andrew Graham-Dixon a flag made shortly after the American Civil War, which includes the confederate cross amongst the stars to show sympathy for the losing southern states.