Last modified: 2001-11-16 by jarig bakker
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These Czech flags are certainly interesting. While not every one is
very atractive (but many are) they are certainly many of them are quite
unusual and "experimental" towards new variations in vexillography. I believe
that the "rounded hoist triangles" are such an example - I don't think
it's been seen before, but still quite striking, simple and "vexillologically
correct" design. There were shown some others that would deserve to be
pointed out, too. Is there any overview (I'm sure there is, vexillology
seems to be quite strong in Czech Republic; but could we get it on FOTW,
at least a summary) over the Czech local flags? There seems to be very
little uniformity or system in Czech local flags - some are bi- or tricolours,
with or without COAs or heraldic devices directly on them, others are banners
of arms while others are quite original vexillographic works.
Zeljko Heimer, 10 May 2001
The Czech municipal flags represent two historical layers: the traditional
pre-1990 flags are usually horizontal bi- or tricolors, often identical
for several towns (e.g. Prague = Ceske
Budejovice, many WB bicolors). After 1990, most new flags are officially
assigned to the towns (and villages) by the chairman of the House of Representatives
of the Czech Parliament, after thorough expert discussion by the subcomitee
for heraldry and vexillology of the Parliament. This monumental flag-making
activity is step-by-step overviewed by Petr Exner (a subcomitee
member) in his 'Vexilologicky lexikon', as well as in the journal
Vexilologie.
The vexillological subcomittee insists that several vexillographical
criteria should be followed: a new flag should not include the whole COA
and that the flag must be of 2:3 ratio. Moreover, most of flags are
more or less derived from the municipality's
heraldical colors (exceptions - e.g. Tabor
and Dvur Kralove nad Labem).
Jan Zrzavy, 10 May 2001
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