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Authentic Vintage 1960s Flag of Florence, Italy (Il Giglio Fiorentino)
Up for sale is a genuine mid-century civil banner representing the historic city of Florence, Italy. This is a rare, beautifully aged piece of Italian vexillology featuring the iconic red stylized Florentine iris (Giglio) screen-printed onto an off-white cotton background.
Measuring exactly 52 x 36 inches (approx. 130 x 90 cm), this flag conforms to the traditional European municipal standard size of the mid-20th century, confirming it was manufactured for official, civic, or parade display rather than as a modern tourist souvenir.
Key Specifications & Construction Details:
* Age: Circa 1960s
* Dimensions: 52" x 36" (130 cm x 90 cm)
* Material:-natural-weave cotton
* Header Style: Traditional coarsely woven textile reinforcement tape along the top edge (no metal grommets), designed for hanging or crossbar mounting.
* Production Technique: Thick, high-quality, mid-century screen-printed textile ink with an incredibly striking, opaque red pigment that remains vibrant.
Condition & Historical Provenance Note:
This flag is in unrestored vintage condition with incredible physical character. The upper third of the canvas features a prominent, wavy water "tide line" stain, along with minor localized foxing. Given its verified 1960s origin and material, this water damage is highly consistent with items that survived the catastrophic November 4, 1966 Flood of Florence.
The bottom right corner features heavy, authentic fraying and tearing with a raw edge, showing the natural breakdown of mid-century cellulose fibers. The red ink remains structurally sound with no major cracking or flaking.
Please review all close-up photos carefully to appreciate the true vintage patina of this piece.
Display Potential:
An exceptional statement piece for collectors of Italian heritage, military/civil history, or anyone anyone seeking a striking, authentic textile art piece for a gallery wall. It is highly recommended to be float-framed in a shadowbox or safely mounted to a backing board to preserve its beautiful, historic frayed edges.
