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  CONFEDERATE OFFICER'S FLAG OR GUIDON IN THE 1ST NATIONAL (STARS & BARS) PATTERN, HAND-SEWN SILK WITH 7 HAND-EMBROIDERED STARS IN A WREATH PATTERN, SAID TO HAVE BEEN MADE BY "LADIES IN RALEIGH" FOR THE 1ST NORTH CAROLINA INFANTRY

Available: Sold
Frame Size (H x L): 27" x 34.25"
Flag Size (H x L): 17.25" x 24.5"
Description....:
CONFEDERATE OFFICER'S FLAG OR GUIDON IN THE 1ST NATIONAL (STARS & BARS) PATTERN, HAND-SEWN SILK WITH 7 HAND-EMBROIDERED STARS IN A WREATH PATTERN, SAID TO HAVE BEEN MADE BY "LADIES IN RALEIGH" FOR THE 1ST NORTH CAROLINA INFANTRY:

This beautiful and unusually fine 1st National (Stars & Bars) pattern flag is made in the same fashion as identified personal flags of Union Army officers. Made entirely of silk, the body of the flag was hand-sewn with tiny stitches and great precision and its stars were expertly hand-embroidered using silk floss. Arranged in the circular wreath pattern that typifies most 7-star examples in the 1st National design, the stars are large and striking against a navy blue canton and its corresponding bars of scarlet red and ivory white.

While the flag could have possibly been made for use as a flank marker (guidon), the lack of a formal sleeve suggests the likelihood of a use that was lighter in nature. Despite the apparent fragility of the hoist, an officer's flag would not necessarily require a sleeve. Silk flags of this period were often lightly tacked to a staff. When the flag was initially made, it would have been far more resilient than its current fragile state would suggest. Union Infantry battle flags were made of the same fabric and typically measured six-by-six-and-a-half feet. They were thus far heavier than this small flag and the nature of their use often exposed them to harsher conditions.

This flag was acquired direct from a North Carolina family and though ties to a specific officer don't exist, an old envelope that accompanied the flag bore the following text:

Confederate Battle Flag
First North Carolina Infantry Handmade by Ladies of Raleigh
Old Silk
Carried through 1861-62
Fragile! Handle with care!

The Confederacy had three successive national designs, known as the first, second, and third Confederate national flags. The first national design consisted of white stars arranged on a blue canton, and three linear stripes (bars) instead of thirteen. There were 2 red bars with one white in-between. Initially it had 7 stars to represent the initial wave of secession, which included the states of South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas, which left the union in that order, but the count increased to 8, 9, 10, and finally to 11 as four more states seceded.

In summary, this is a rare, and unusual, small sized Confederate flag, made for military use, with great graphics and construction.

Mounting: The gilded molding dates to the period between 1820 and 1850 and has a beautiful, step-down profile. This is a sandwich mount between 100% cotton and u.v. protective acrylic. The black background fabric was washed to remove excess dye. An acid-free agent was added to the wash to further set the dye and the fabric was heat-treated for the same purpose.

Condition: There is moderate breakdown throughout with associated loss. Almost all sewn flags made of silk during the mid-late 19th century have splits of various severity because the silk used was weighted with mineral salts or some other agent that was added to make it heavier. This practice began sometime between 1820 and 1850 with most silk merchants, who began to sell silk by weight rather than by length and weighted it to increase the price that they could obtain. The weighting agents were caustic to the fabric, however, which resulted in associated breakdown. 19th century sewn flags made of silk are generally among the best of all flags that reach the marketplace, however and because of their desirability the losses are often simply accepted. A combination of their bold designs, likely military association and rarity warrants practically any condition. Fabric of similar coloration was placed behind the flag, both for support and to mask losses.
Collector Level: Flags for the truest Patriots. My best offerings
Flag Type: Sewn flag
Star Count: 07
Earliest Date of Origin: 1861
Latest Date of Origin: 1861
State/Affiliation: The Confederacy
War Association: 1861-1865 Civil War
Price: SOLD
 

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