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  13 STARS ARRANGED IN A 4-5-4 PATTERN ON A SMALL-SCALE FLAG OF THE 1895-1910 ERA

Available: Sold
Frame Size (H x L): 40.5" x 60"
Flag Size (H x L): 29.25" x 48.25"
Description....:
13 STARS ARRANGED IN A 4-5-4 PATTERN ON A SMALL-SCALE FLAG OF THE 1895-1910 ERA:

13 star flag of the type made from roughly the last decade of the 19th century through the first quarter of the 20th century. The 4-5-4 lineal configuration is both scarcer and more appealing than rows of stars in counts of 3-2-3-2-3, and is generally seen on flags made during the Civil War period and prior. For some reason the 4-5-4 pattern was not popular during the celebration of our nation's 100-year anniversary of independence in 1876, when 13 star flags were produced to commemorate the 13 original colonies. Very limited production was seen in the 1890's - 1920's era, during which time most 13 star flags bore either the 3-2-3-2-3 or a circular medallion arrangement that displayed a wreath of 8 stars with a single center star and a star in each corner. The more unusual designs, such as this one, tend to appear in flags that date on the earlier end of that spectrum, between the 1890's and 1910.

There was no official star pattern for the 13 star flag set forth in the flag act of June 14th, 1777. Because the original does not survive, and descriptions of it are unrecorded, no one actually knows what the very first one looked like. Due to its apparent popularity in early America, however, as evidenced by both drawings and surviving 19th century examples, more than one flag expert has hedged that lineal rows of 4-5-4 could well have been the original configuration.

Why 13 Stars?
13 star flags have been continuously produced throughout our nation's history for purposes both patriotic and utilitarian. This was the original number of stars on the American flag, representing the 13 colonies, so it was appropriate for any flag made in conjunction with celebrations or notions of American independence. 13 star flags were displayed at patriotic events, including Lafayette’s visit in 1825-26, the celebration of the nation's centennial in 1876, and the sesquicentennial in 1926. They were displayed during the Civil War, to reference past struggles for American liberty and victory over oppression, and were used by 19th century politicians in political campaigning for the same reason.

13 star flags were flown by American ships both private and federal. The U.S. Navy used 13 stars on the ensigns made for small boats, because they wished the stars to be easily discerned at a distance. As the number of stars grew with the addition of new states, two circumstances occurred. One, it became more and more difficult to fit stars on a small flag and two, it became more difficult to view them from afar as individual objects.

The same logic was adopted in the private marketplace. For all practical purposes, commercial flag-makers simply didn't produce flags with pieced-and-sewn construction that were 3-4 feet in length that bore the full star count until well into the 20th century. There are exceptions to this rule, but until this time, the smallest sewn flags were between approximately 5 and 6 feet on the fly. The primary use had long been more utilitarian than decorative, and flags needed to be large to be effective as signals. But private use grew with the passage of time, which led to the need for long-term use flags of more manageable scale.

Beginning around 1890, flag-makers began to produce small flags for the first time in large quantities. Most measured approximately 2 x 3 feet, or 2.5 x 4 feet, such as this example, though there was certainly variation. Applying the same logic as the U.S. Navy, flag-makers chose the 13 star count rather than the full complement of stars for sake of ease and visibility. Any flag that has previously been official, remains so according to the flag acts, so 13 star flags were and still are official today.

Construction: The canton and stripes of the flag are made of wool bunting, pieced by machine. The cotton stars are machine-sewn with a zigzag stitch and double-appliquéd (applied to both sides of the flag). There is no applied binding along the hoist. In its place are three pairs of ties made from red satin ribbon. I previously owned another flag of the same exact type, finished in the same exact fashion, and believe that the ribbon may have been added by the flag-maker.

Mounting: The flag has been hand-stitched to 100% silk organza for support on every seam and throughout the star field. The flag was then hand-stitched to a background of twill cotton, black in color, which was washed to reduce 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. The mount was then placed in a black-painted, hand-gilded and distressed Italian molding. The glazing is U.V. protective acrylic.

Condition: In the actual flag there is an exceptionally tiny amount of mothing, but condition is as near to pristine as exists among its counterparts of this period with wool construction. There is fracturing in the topmost pair of silk ties. At the end of these two small pieces of the same ribbon (salvaged from one of them that was exceptionally long) were used to complete the presentation in a balanced fashion.
Collector Level: Intermediate-Level Collectors and Special Gifts
Flag Type: Sewn flag
Star Count: 13
Earliest Date of Origin: 1890
Latest Date of Origin: 1910
State/Affiliation: 13 Original Colonies
War Association: 1898 Spanish American War
Price: SOLD
 

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