Associazione Gian Battista Amendola da Sarno.

Italia Associazione Gian Battista Amendola da Sarno Flag, 1904.
This ornately embroidered organizational flag is based on a double faced Italian tricolor. The flag's obverse bears a stylization of the royal Italian arms; an eagle with the oval arms of the House of Savoy on the breast encircled by a golden tasseled cincture from which the insignia of the principal chivalrous order of the Kingdom of Italy (The Order of the Holy Annunciation) is suspended. This is above a light blue ribbon inscribed in red: "Fert, Fert, Fert", which is the Latin motto of the ruling house and by extension of the Italian government.

It is said to be an anagram for the Latin phrase: "By treaty and religion are we bound" (Foedere et Religione Tenemur). Above all in curving embroidered golden bullion wire letters is the identification: "ASSOCIAZIONE GIAN BATTISTA AMENDOLA DA SARNO" while below the arms is the associations' location - "NEW YORK". In each corner there are golden floral wreaths encircling the Italian words CIVILTA, BENEVOLENZA, PATRIA, and UMANITA, (CIVILIZATION, GOODWILL, HOMELAND, and HUMANITY).

The reverse shows a wreath of oak and olive branches enclosing a sunburst on which is displayed a square and dividers, which are symbols that have long been associated with the Masonic order. This central emblem is above a golden ribbon on which the organization's founding (4 October 1903) and incorporation (3 February 1904) dates are embroidered. Above all of this is an embroidered silver five-point star.

Before the rise of large insurance companies, fraternal and religious associations like this were common in the immigrant communities in large cities of the United States. Organizations like this were founded for mutual benefit, fraternization and socialization. The flag of this group from Sarno, Italy combines Royal Italian, Masonic and religious symbols.

This exquisite flag dates back to the 1903-1904 period, which was the pinnacle of Italian immigration into the United States that between 1880 and 1920 saw over 4,000,000 Italians come to the United States - most of them from Southern Italy.

Provenance: Acquired by the Louise Veninga Collection at Internet Auction.

ZFC Noteworthy Flag

Sources:

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Sarno, Wikipedia, 30 April 2012, from: http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarno

Italian American, Wikipedia, 30 April 2012, from, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_American

FERT, Wikipedia, 30 April 2012, from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FERT

Image Credits:
Zaricor Flag Collection

Hoist & Fly
Width of Hoist	65
Length of Fly	70.5

Frame
Is it framed?	no

Stars
Are there stars on obverse?	no
Are there stars on reverse?	no

Stripes
Has a Blood Stripe?	no

Nationality
Nation Represented	Italy

Documentation
Documents	All original documents and drawings are held in the Zaricor Flag Collection Archives.
Drawings	All original documents and drawings are held in the Zaricor Flag Collection Archives.

Condition
Condition	Good
Damage	Used
Displayable	yes

Date
Date	1903