Cuba–Vietnam friendship enamel lapel pin

Name/Title

Cuba–Vietnam friendship enamel lapel pin

Entry/Object ID

2025.2.17

Description

Small enameled metal stick‑pin showing two overlapping flags. Upper: the flag of Cuba — red hoist triangle with a white five‑pointed star, and three blue / two white horizontal stripes. Lower: a red flag with a single central yellow‑gold five‑pointed star (the flag of Vietnam). Gold‑tone outlines throughout. Needle (stick‑pin) fastener with a wire catch at the right.

Use

Belonged to Anna Veltfort, who brought it with her to the United States when she moved back in 1971.

Context

Made in support to the Vietnamese during the Vietnam war.

Collection

Anna Veltfort collection

Acquisition

Accession

2025.2

Source or Donor

Anna Veltfort

Acquisition Method

Gift

Dimensions

Height

1 cm

Width

1.9 cm

Parts

1

Materials

Material

Metal

Material Notes

Materials: Enamel on metal (brass/gilt — tentative); metal needle pin. Technique: Die‑struck/stamped metal with colored enamel fill; stick‑pin (needle) fastener.

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Anna Veltfort

Notes

Owner

Related Places

Place

City

Havana

Country

Cuba

Region

Caribbean, Central America

Notes

Acquisition

Place

City

New York City

State/Province

New York

Country

U.S.A.

Continent

North America

Notes

Preservation

Place

Country

Cuba

Region

Caribbean, Central America

Place

Country

Vietnam

Related Events

Event

Vietnam War

Web Links and URLs

Wikipedia

Research Notes

Notes

Friendship pins of this type were produced in Cuba to commemorate and affirm the political and solidarity ties between Cuba and allied socialist states. The Cuban-Vietnamese relationship was one of particular resonance: both nations were engaged in armed struggle against US imperialism simultaneously during the 1960s and 1970s, and Cuba provided material, medical, and diplomatic support to Vietnam throughout the war. The overlapping flags — a standard visual grammar of socialist internationalism — render that solidarity as a wearable, everyday object, circulating political allegiance through personal adornment.

Created By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Create Date

March 31, 2022

Updated By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Update Date

June 10, 2026