Tired of all the xenophobic flag waving characterizing this endless presidential campaign  by some vociferous candidates that reveals little knowledge of American history?!

For real, historic expressions of patriotism, consider instead some flag bedecked, slogan filled textile folk art from the past two centuries gathered by NYC Americana dealer Laura Fisher of FISHER HERITAGE. “On the basis of their evocative graphics alone, clients love the American symbolism in flag and patriotic artifacts that expresses their political awareness. In addition, with a bit of research, they gain an educational benefit too.”

Fisher’s patriotic textiles date from the Korean War, World Wars I and II back through the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial to amazing pre-Civil War woven coverlets. Flags - always plentiful at campaign time -  typically were manufactured just for momentary use. Those that wound up in quilts or in frames are remarkable survivors.

American flag imagery on textiles today is ubiquitous, even flagrant, in clothing and home furnishings, in contrast to having been considered criminal not so many years ago. And keep in mind that to make a quilt with a flag or patriotic symbols once was the only acceptable way for women to express their politics before the vote was secured.

Among the patriotic antique quilts and textiles for sale at FISHER HERITAGE are: 

• a JAMES CUNNINGHAM DOUBLECLOTH COVERLET with his trademark Washington on Horseback corner block inscribed United We Stand, Divided We Fall,  also United We Prosper, woven for Sarah M. Deninson 
• a remarkable WORLD WAR I CROCHET SPREAD emblazoned “Long May She Wave” depicting doughboys, patriotic slogans and flag symbols              
• an 1876 CENTENNIAL QUILT pieced of kerchiefs of the American flag within a framework of flags of the nations that exhibited in the Philadelphia Exhibition 
• 16 AMERICAN FLAGS in a trundle-bed-size quilt from turn of the century parades from the Spanish American War or WW I
•  an AMERICAN FLAGS QUILT pieced of 84 CIGAR BOX FLANNELS c. 1915-20
• a NAVAJO WEAVING/RUG of the American Flag with 48 stylized 6-point stars c. 1950
• a SAILOR’S SOUVENIR SILKWORK  ”Remembrance of my Cruise in China, Japan and Philippine Waters”, a Japanese embroidered picture with flags and an eagle, made for the Great White Fleet c. 1910
• 'AGRICULTURE AND MANUFACTURES ARE THE FOUNDATION OF OUR INDEPENDENCE' New York State DOUBLECLOTH COVERLET in indigo and white, signed and dated 1843
• a three-dimensional “TARGET’ or “PINE BURR” QUILT with varied 3-d stars pieced of 1900s flag bunting
• a store display FELT ADVERTISING BANNER APPLIQUED WITH FLAGS, EAGLE, saying United States, made by the American Banner Company

and more...

The selections from FISHER HERITAGE are available always on line at www.laurafisherquilts.com, or can be seen by appointment only in her warehouse gallery in Chelsea any day of the week.