- Joined
- Feb 20, 2005
- Location
- Near Kankakee
Would appreciate it, Mike. I'm getting tense about what that buckle is.
Sure does look like it.I got a hit that makes sense, especially when you look at the link I'll attach. It appears to be a "John Paul Jones Flag", circa 1779, also called the Serapis Flag. It works out right with the four stars on top and bottom and five across the middle. It also had different color stripes. What era the buckle is from we don't know, but the flag is a definate match.
US flag timeline:
http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagfact.html
It's not a magnolia. (I have one growing next to the garage.) Looks more like a fruit blossom of some kind. (Is dogwood one of those quasi-fruit trees like flowering crab?)
Definitely not Dogwood as its blossom has four petals. The Dogwood tree has to be my favorite native flowering tree and the sure sign of Spring in southern forests. It grows in masses as an understory tree on well drained land and puts on a magnificent show, particularly when combined with native Redbuds blooming at the same time. Cultivated white and pink varieties in gardens also bloom at the same time as azaleas, making a beautiful combination.
Looks more like a wild rose to me.
Hey Mike, didnt know you were on here!! Leann and Waylon, I dont know if I would fly on what John Sexton said about the piece. Though he may be right, And he's a very knowledgeable fella, Everyone knows about the 13 stars and 13 stripes. Yes they were used in a variety of different ways up to the late 1800's. But this specific flag matches the Serapis to the tee.The big question is, how many points are on the stars? A true Serapis flag will have 8 points on the stars. I would definetley keep researching your relic until you come up with a good I.D. Personally, I believe your buckle to be from around the late 1700's. Here's a pretty cool story on the Battle of Flamborough Head. Which is where the 44 gun ship Serapis was taken by John Paul Jones fgor those who dont mind a little reading. The ship was so shot up, cannonballs would fly right through it without touching it. A great buckle, keep us posted.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Flamborough_Head
Here's another on the flag...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serapis_flag