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  13 STARS ARRANGED IN A MEDALLION PATTERN ON A SMALL-SCALE FLAG OF THE 1890's

Available: Sold
Frame Size (H x L): 43.5" x 58.25"
Flag Size (H x L): 32.25" x 47.25"
Description....:
13 STARS ARRANGED IN A MEDALLION PATTERN ON A SMALL-SCALE FLAG OF THE 1890's:

13 star flag of the type that commercial flag-makers began to produce during the last decade of the 19th century. The stars are arranged in a beautiful medallion configuration with larger star in the center and four flanking corner stars. Most 13-star, flags of this era 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 surviving examples of this period. Production of these small flags continued through the 1920's, although this one displays attributes most consistent with the 1890-1900 date bracket.

Why 13 Stars?
As the number of stars grew with the addition of new states, it became more and more difficult to fit the full complement of stars on a small flag. The stars would, by necessity, have to become smaller, which made it more and more difficult to view them from a distance as individual objects. The fear was that too many stars would become one white mass and distort the ability to identify American ships on the open seas.

The U.S. Navy used 13 stars on its small-scale flags for precisely this reason. This was, of course, the original number of stars on the first American national flag, by way of the First Flag Act of 1777, and equal to the number of original colonies that became states.

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. Although various sizes were produced, most of the small-scale flags of this kind measure approximately 2 x 3 feet, or 2.5 x 4 feet. 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 flag that has previously been official, remains so according to the flag acts, so 13 star flags were and still are official today.

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 wool bunting that has been pieced with treadle stitching. The stars are made of cotton and double-appliqued (applied to both sides) by treadle machine with a lineal stitch. There is wide canvas binding along the hoist with two white metal grommets.

  Mounting: The flag has been hand-stitched to 100% natural fabrics for support on every seam and throughout the star field. Fabrics of similar coloration were placed behind the flag to mask minor losses. 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 plexiglass.

Condition: There is minor mothing throughout. There is some separation of the stripe field from the hoist along the bottom three stripes, accompanied by a linear tear, adjacent to the hoist, within the 5th white stripe. many of my clients prefer early flags to show their age and history of use.
Collector Level: Intermediate-Level Collectors and Special Gifts
Flag Type: Sewn flag
Star Count: 13
Earliest Date of Origin: 1890
Latest Date of Origin: 1900
State/Affiliation: 13 Original Colonies
War Association:
Price: SOLD
 

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