Description
In Philadelphia, the museum was nearly closing when Ben finally reached the case he had come to see. Behind the glass hung a faded flag: a yellow field, a coiled snake, four words stitched beneath. His grandson, eleven and impatient, asked why a snake. Ben crouched down to eye level and explained that a rattlesnake gives a warning before it strikes, and never attacks unless provoked.
The boy considered this for a long time. Then he asked whether that meant you should always warn people before you get angry. Ben laughed and said that was not a bad lesson at all. They bought a postcard of the flag on the way out, and it was pinned above the boy’s desk for years. This porcelain flag carries that striking design: the golden ground, the coiled serpent, the famous motto. It makes a fine gift for a veteran, a history teacher, a collector of Americana or anyone who values the story of the Revolution. Display it on a study shelf or an office desk.
Inside and out
- The yellow Gadsden flag design
- Coiled rattlesnake above the motto Don’t Tread On Me
- Approximately 2.5″ x 1.5″ x 2″
- Opens to keep a coin or service pin
- A Rochard piece; its Limoges porcelain carries hand-applied color from France
Give it on the Fourth of July or Veterans Day with a handwritten note of thanks folded inside. It honors both the history and the person.
