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  37 STARS IN A MEDALLION CONFIGURATION ON AN ANTIQUE AMERICAN FLAG OF THE 1867-1876 PERIOD, IN A RARE AND DESIRABLE SMALL SIZE, NEBRASKA STATEHOOD

Available: Sold
Frame Size (H x L): Approx. 45" x 71"
Flag Size (H x L): 34" x 60"
Description....:
37 STARS IN A MEDALLION CONFIGURATION ON AN ANTIQUE AMERICAN FLAG OF THE 1867-1876 PERIOD, IN A RARE AND DESIRABLE SMALL SIZE, NEBRASKA STATEHOOD:

37 star American national flag with a beautiful medallion configuration of stars. This consists of three circular wreaths, with a single star in the center, and one flanking star in each corner of the navy blue canton. The medallion configuration is extremely desirable among collectors for its beauty and the nearly countless variations in which it appears. What sets this flag even further apart is its small size. In the 19th century, most Stars & Stripes flags with pieced-and-sewn construction were eight feet long and larger, making them impractical for indoor display in most settings. Collectors prefer flags that can be more easily displayed and enjoyed. The scale of this flag is particularly unusual, especially for a flag with an interesting star pattern.

The 37th state, Nebraska, joined the Union on March 1st, 1867. The 37 star flag was official from that year until 1877, although it generally fell out of use in 1876 with the addition of Colorado. The 37 star-count is scarce in comparison to the flags that immediately preceded and followed it. This is due primarily to the lack of major patriotic events during the period they were generally used, which followed the Civil War yet preceded the 100-year anniversary of our nation's independence. While the 37 star flag was still official in 1876, it was well known that at least one more state would be joining the Union that year. This caused flag makers to cease production in favor of 38 and 39 star flags, which were made as early as 1875 or even prior. For this reason, 37 star flags were seldom produced for our nation's centennial, where 38 and 13 (to commemorate the original 13 colonies) star counts were preferred. Even so, some 37 star flags survive, with hand-inscribed or embroidered dates, that were evidently used in the fanfare of our nation's 100-year anniversary. I have long presumed that some of those with more whimsical star configurations, such as this flag, were produced specifically for that purpose.

Construction: The stars are made of cotton, hand-sewn, and double-appliqued. This means that they are applied to both sides of the flag. The stripes made of wool bunting that has been pieced with hand-stitching. The canton was applied to the stripes with treadle stitching and the fly end of the stripes is finished with a treadle-stitch. It is very common to see this particular combination of hand and treadle-stitching during the 37 star period. There is a cotton binding along the hoist, with extended wool bunting from the canton and stripes rolled over inside for support. The binding was constructed as an open sleeve, through which a substantial, twisted cotton rope hoist was threaded for hoisting, with loops at either end, secured by thinner cotton cord that is tightly coiled around it.

Mounting: The flag has been hand-stitched to 100% silk organza throughout for support. It was then hand-sewn to a 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 mount was then placed in a black-painted, hand-gilded and distressed Italian molding. The glazing is U.V. protective acrylic.

Condition: There is extremely minor mothing for a wool flag of this period, accompanied by extremely minor foxing and staining.
Collector Level: Advanced Collectors and the Person with Everything
Flag Type: Sewn flag
Star Count: 37
Earliest Date of Origin: 1867
Latest Date of Origin: 1876
State/Affiliation: Nebraska
War Association: 1866-1890 Indian Wars
Price: SOLD
 

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