Types: Flagstaff pedestals
The winged lion is the principal symbol present in Venetian artwork; it is also a patriotic symbol of Venice and prominently featured on the Venetian flag. Besides that of the lion, there are many other flags that belong to Venetian culture, like those representing certain areas within the city, the city's scuole, families, or other organizations. These flags, along with their flagstaffs and pedestals, were typically located in campi near the group that they represented. Since far fewer flags are flown today in Venice, the flagstaff pedestal is often the only remaining indication of this tradition. The pedestals themselves contain decorative designs, as well as historical or religious inscriptions and icons. The pedestal consists of two structural elements, the base and the body. The body holds the wood or metal flagstaff above the ground and contains the artistic elements, while the base is the platform on which the pedestal body rests.
There are 55 flagstaff pedestals in Venice and the lagoon islands, three of which have been enclosed in courtyards and are no longer public. Of the pedestals located in Venice, only 35 contain flagstaffs. The majority of the pedestals are located in or near campi, as churches and associated scuole are often the heart of each campo. Thirty-four of the pedestals are near waterfront, which can be attributed to the mercantile and military purposes of the flags they would have flown. In fact, two pedestals are located directly in the water within the sestiere of San Marco.
Flagstaff pedestals were created from a variety of materials and styles. Istrian stone is the most popular material used to make pedestal bodies, accounting for 76 percent of the pedestals in Venice. Some of the other materials used were bronze (11%), Verona stone (5%), and metal (4%). Istrian stone was also commonly employed to construct the pedestal base, amounting to 75 percent of the total. Pedestals frequently contain artistic carvings; there are nine pedestals in Venice that display the winged lion of Saint Mark, most if not all postdating 1797. Other common themes are water, religious motifs, symbols of scuole, and familial coats of arms. Textual inscriptions are also often found on pedestals. Eleven percent of the pedestals in Venice have text concerning Italian Independence in 1866, and another 11 percent concern Venetian confraternities.
Currently, most flagstaffs in Venice are not and have not been used for many years. As a result, 17 percent are in poor condition and are unusable due to deterioration of the wood and pulley systems. Of the remaining 83 percent that are in good condition, only 20 percent are currently in use. In 1997, students examined the pedestals to measure the severity of the damage that has been suffered. They found that the largest problem is cracking, affecting 26 percent of the pedestals. Grime affects 25 percent of pedestals; 15 percent are missing pieces. Other atrophic issues include rust, pitting, chalking, illegibility, and vandalism. The wooden flagstaffs, too, suffer from a large amount of missing paint and cracking. Frequently, cracking appears where there is no paint and the flagstaff material is exposed to the humid Venetian climate.
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