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  13 STARS IN A MEDALLION PATTERN ON A SMALL-SCALE FLAG OF THE 1890-1910 ERA

Available: Sold
Frame Size (H x L): 36" x 47.75"
Flag Size (H x L): 25" x 36.5"
Description....:
13 STARS IN A MEDALLION PATTERN ON A SMALL-SCALE FLAG OF THE 1890-1910 ERA:

13 star flag of the type made from roughly the last decade of the 19th century through the first part of the 20th century. The stars are arranged in a beautiful medallion configuration with a slightly larger star in the center, surrounded by a wreath of 8 stars, with a flanking star in each corner of the canton. Most 13-star, flags of this period have a less-desirable, staggered row design with stars arranged in counts of 3-2-3-2-3. Medallion patterns, like this one, seem to comprise about twenty-five percent of such flags that were produced in this era.

Why 13 Stars? The U.S. Navy had long been using 13 stars on its small-scale flags because they wished the stars to be easily discerned at a distance. This was the original number of stars on the American flag and equal to the number of original colonies. 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 increasingly difficult to discern them from afar as individual objects.

For all practical purposes, commercial flag-makers simply didn't produce flags with pieced-and-sewn construction that were 3 to 4 feet in length before the 1890's. There are exceptions to this rule, but until this time, the smallest sewn flags were approximately 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. 2 x 3 feet and 2.5 x 4 feet were the most common sizes. Evidently applying the same logic as the U.S. Navy, they chose the 13 star count rather than the full complement of stars for sake of ease and visibility. Any American national flag that has previously been official remains so today, according to the flag acts. So the use of 13 stars, the official count from 1777 to 1795, was perfectly acceptable.

13 star flags have been used throughout our Nation's history for a variety of purposes. In addition to their use on the small scale flags of the 1890-1920's era, the U.S. Navy used the 13 star count on small boats, both in the 18th century and through most or all of the 19th century, particularly the second half. The Navy's use of the 13 star flag ended in 1916 following an executive order written by President Woodrow Wilson. Among other uses, 13 star flags were carried by soldiers during the Mexican and Civil Wars, used at patriotic events, including Lafayette's visit in 1825-26, celebration of the Nation's centennial in 1876 and the sesquicentennial in 1926.

Construction: The canton and stripes of the flag are made of cotton bunting, pieced with a treadle machine. The cotton stars are machine-sewn with a lineal stitch and double-appliqued (applied to both sides of the flag). There is a twill cotton binding along the hoist with 2 white metal grommets.

This type of stitching tends to be most often seen in 13 star flags of this type that date between 1890 and 1895. By contrast, the zigzag stitch, first patented for use on flags in 1892, saw widespread use shortly thereafter. This tends to be seen on most commercially made flags produced between roughly 1895 and WWII (U.S. involvement 1941-45). This example is unusual because of the cotton construction. The stripes and cantons of most flags of this type were made from wool bunting. Some 45 star flags are seen with cotton bunting construction, spanning the period between 1896 and 1907. Because of the combination of cotton bunting and lineal, machine-sewn stars, I'd conservatively date this particular example between roughly 1890 and 1910.

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

Condition: The blue canton has faded nearly to black. Some of this was probably due to light exposure, but it is clear that the dye used in the canton was fugitive, meaning that it broke down to a degree over time with or without the aid of light and other factors. There minor to moderate foxing and staining throughout, accompanied by a slight tear near the top corner, at the point where the canton meets the hoist. Many of my clients prefer flags to show their age and history of use.
Collector Level: Beginners and Holiday Gift Giving
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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