Star 06 04 67mm Height MESH

The soviet star. A five cornered two planed 'mantlepiece' from an soviet estonian lamp factory. The Soviet Union was the first state to use a socialist-style emblem, beginning at its creation in 1922. The style became more widespread after World War II, when many other communist states were established. Even a few non-socialist (or communist) states have adopted the style, for various reasons —usually because communists had helped them to gain independence or establish their republican governments. After the fall of the Soviet Union and the other communist states in Eastern Europe between 1989 and 1992, this style of state emblems was often abandoned for the old heraldic practices, with many (but not all) of the new governments reinstating traditional heraldry that was previously cast aside.