Stathatos Brothers House Flags

Clockwise from top left: A. D. Stathatos, Constantine Stathatos, Denys A. Stathatos & Othon A. Stathatos

According to A History of Greek-Owned Shipping by Gelina Harlaftis  (Appendix 3.1, The Ionian network 1870s-1900s), prior to 1900 the Stathatos family had an interest in three separate companies active on the Danube: Stathatos Bros, Othon Stathatos and Theofilatos & Stathatos; it thereby appears that the elder of the three brothers, Othon, was already striking out on his own, whilst also retaining an interest in the jointly owned family company.

As, towards the end of the 19^th century, conditions on the lower Danube became increasingly inimical to the near-monopoly of the Greek shipping companies, the latter relatively swiftly switched their focus to maritime shipping. By the turn of the century, most had shifted their operations to London or Piraeus. Among the companies now registered in Piraeus were those of Othon A. Stathatos, Dionyssios A. Stathatos and Constantine A. Stathatos; by this time there is no mention of Stathatos Bros, confirming that each of the three brothers had now gone into business for himself.

The separation is underlined by the different house flags which they now registered, to be seen painted on the funnels of each company’s ships. Of the four flags illustrated, above, the first, apparently registered in their father’s name, A. D. Stathatos, was most probably the house flag of the no longer extant Stathatos Bros.