This is an exceptional and extremely rare ceremonial banner of the Vichy regime, made between 1940 and 1944 and used under Marshal Philippe Pétain during the period of the État Français. The triangular banner is made of dark blue velvet and richly finished with hand-embroidered gold and silver thread, wide gold fringe, and original mounting ribbons. The quality of the embroidery clearly demonstrates that it was produced in the studio for official state ceremonies and not for general or everyday military use.

Centrally placed on the banner is the characteristic emblem of the État Français. The letters EF, entirely hand-embroidered in gold thread, directly refer to the official state name of Vichy France. The emblem is designed as a bundle of sticks with an axe, a symbol frequently used by the Vichy regime to emphasize authority, national order, and traditional values. The half red-white-and-blue shields and the vertical band of stars make this design instantly recognizable as an official Pétain-era symbol. The embroidered stars in the upper part of the banner refer to the departments and prefectures of the État Français, indicating that this banner belonged to a ceremonial standard of an official state agency, parade unit, or prefectural office.

The exceptionally luxurious finish, heavy gold fringe, fully intact embroidery, and the presence of original ribbons place this piece among a very small group of Vichy objects that survived the war and the period afterward. Most État Français materials were deliberately destroyed after the liberation because they were linked to collaboration and state propaganda. As a result, authentic Pétain materials in this condition are almost never available anymore.

This banner is completely original, unrestored and in good condition.

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Dimensions: 52 x 70 x 90 cm