Bavarian Streifenflagge 1870 to 1914.
This small silk streifenflagge (striped flag) is typical of parade flags waived by citizens as they saw Bavarian soldiers off to war. The colors derived from the arms of the venerable Wittelsbach family, from whom Bavaria drew many of her dukes, kings and electors. Those arms were in turn derived from the arms of the county Bogen, over which the Wittelsbach family assumed suzerainty in 1240.
The origins of the white and blue colors have been lost to antiquity, but are popularly thought to represent either the colors of the sky, or the lakes and rivers of Bavaria. It is most likely that these attributes are modern and the striped flag is simply the livery of the arms.
Small flags like this were popular in Bavaria, as jealously guarded its sovereignty, and people used them proudly as a symbol of Bavaria to show that it was separate from Germany.
Note: the diagonal striations running from the upper hoist to the lower fly are indicative of a long period of static display, possibly in a home, school or church.
Provenance: Acquired by purchase in Bamberg Germany.
Sources:
Bavaria (Germany), Flags of the World, 4 June 2012, from: http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/de-by.html
Flag of Bavaria, Wikipedia, 4 June 2012, from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Bavaria
Image Credits:
Zaricor Flag Collection
