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Ceremonial Artifacts ➔ Banner, Polish Heritage Society
Identifier:
2005.14.1Description:
Double sided rectangular silk parade banner hangs on three piece wood and metal standard. One side of the banner has a red satin background with the words Polish Heritage Society spelled out in gold metallic braid across the top folded over placket. There is a central oval medallion with a painted image of the Virgin Mary ascending innto heaven surrounded by putti at her feet. This medallion is surrounded by gold metallic braid trim. Below the medallion is a curved metallic braiding with red glass stones and buillion trim. Beneath the medallion are the with words: W (of) Grand Rapids, Mich. / spelled out in gold metallic letters. There is gold,metallic scrolling trim along the sides and bottom of the banner. The top plackets and bottom hems of both sides of the banner are trimmed with metallic gold fringe that follows the countours of the scalloped fabric edges. Two gold tassels are attached to bottom of banner. Metallic gold braid edges both sides of the entire banner. The reverse side has a white satin background with a center shield shaped cartouche applied to it. The shield is divided into three sections with different painted motifs in each. The top left is a silver crowned Polish Falcon on a red background. The top right is the Lithuanina knight in armour riding a horse and the the lower section has the angel Gabriel dressed in red and green holding two swords crossed at his feet. There is a central medallion with Our Lady of Czetohova holding Jesus embroidered on it. Two crossed spears project from behind the shield, each with one red and one white banner attached to it. The banners on the left side have the dates 1794 and 1830 in metallic thread embroidered on them. The right side banners have the dates 1848 and 1863. There is an embroidered and couched applique of a red and gold cross surmounted with a gold cross, applied above the shield. Below the shield is a ribbon banner edged in metallic gold with the following applied in gold metallic thread: 1772 Boze Zbaw Polske 1793 ; which translates as God -----------. The date 1795 appears above the banner encircled in a crown of thorns. At the top of the banner are the Polish words: Krolowo Korony Polskiej; which translate as Mary Queen of Poland. The Polish words: Modl Sie Za Nami; are in metallic gold thread near the bottom. In the center at the bottom is a quatrefoil with what appears to be the intial M intertwined in the letter A. A wood pole capped with a metal filagree ball and small urn shape metal cap runs through the top casing of the banner. The standard is made up of two long wooden poles connected by a metal coupling which fit into a heavy circular metal base. Near the top of the pole is a scrolled metal bracket attached to the pole with a rosette capped screw and bolt. The bracket has a clip on each side from which the banner hangs. The pole is topped with an ornate metal cross with IHS in the center. Newer pieces of gold metallic braid and red, gold and blue ribbon have been tied to the pole that runs through the top of the banner.;From a copy of The Polish Heritage Society Board Meeting Minutes dateed August 18, 1971, this banner was made from an older banner that was renovated and repainted. The minutes indicate that the Society paid $100.00 for work done by Bob Bushewicz, former Exhibits employee at the Museum and member of the P.H.S , and the Carmelite nuns. In 2004, Mark Levandoski, former president of the PHS and a member of the Museum's Ethnic History Exhibit Community Advisory Committee located the banner in a storage clsoet at Sacred Heart Church in GR. He brought it to the Museum for possible use in the Ethnic History Exhibit.;Used by the Polish Heritage Society in parades, festivals, religious events and other Society assemblies. It was usually carried by a member of the Society in the front of a procession which often included Soicety members.Date:
circa 1975Materials:
Painted, Embroidered, Silk, Metallic Trim, Paint, Wood, MetalDimensions:
118.5" h 50 | 35 | 55" w 3" d; 55" h ; 63" hCurrent Location Status:
On ExhibitSource:
Gift Of The Polish Heritage SocietyExhibits/Programs:
Newcomers: The People of this Place (after 2008)Sister cities ()