Jeff Bridgman Antique Flags
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  35 SINGLE APPLIQUED STARS, ENTIRELY HAND-SEWN, CIVIL WAR PERIOD, 1863-65, WEST VIRGINIA STATEHOOD

Available: Sold
Frame Size (H x L):
Flag Size (H x L): 66" x 113"
Description....:
35 SINGLE APPLIQUED STARS, ENTIRELY HAND-SEWN, CIVIL WAR PERIOD, 1863-65, WEST VIRGINIA STATEHOOD:

Entirely hand-sewn, 35 star American national flag of the Civil War period. West Virginia was admitted into the Union as the 35th state on June 20th, 1863, a few days before the battle of Gettysburg. The 35th star was officially added on July 4th of that year and the flag technically remained official during the closing of the war. Production would have generally ceased, however, just one year later, with the addition of the 36th state.

The stars are made of cotton and single-appliqued. This means that they were applied to one side of the canton, then the blue fabric was cut from behind each star, folded over, and under-hemmed, so that one star could be viewed on both sides of the flag. I always find single-appliqued stars more interesting, not only because they are evidence of a more difficult level of seam-work and stitching, but even more so because they are usually more visually intriguing. Both the sewing itself and stretching of the fabrics over time has results in stars that have irregular shapes and interesting visual qualities, which is why flags with single-appliqued stars often appeal to connoisseurs of early American textiles. Because the exposed side of the cutouts on this particular example appear on the obverse (front) of the flag, the stitching is more apparent, which emphasizes its hand-stitched construction.

The stripes and canton of the flag are made of wool bunting. The rectangular, red wool patch at the bottom of the hoist end is called a gusset and was added for support. There is coarse linen binding with two brass grommets for hoisting. An illegible name was written with a dip pen along the hoist.

Mounting: The flag has not yet been mounted. We employ a full time conservation staff and can attend to all of your framing needs.

Condition: The binding is split along the hoist end. There is minor mothing throughout. Some of the stars have vertical splits in the cotton fabric and there is a lateral tear along the top of the canton, as well as near the fly end of the bottom white stripe. There is minor loss at the top, hoist-end corner of the canton. The gusset is partially un-sewn. All of these issues can easily be attended to during the mounting process. Many of my clients prefer early flags to show their age and history of use because the condition adds character.
Collector Level: Intermediate-Level Collectors and Special Gifts
Flag Type: Sewn flag
Star Count: 35
Earliest Date of Origin: 1863
Latest Date of Origin: 1865
State/Affiliation: West Virginia
War Association: 1861-1865 Civil War
Price: SOLD
 

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