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  PATRIOTIC BANNER DEPICTING THE U.S.S. MONTEREY, FRAMED BY BILLOWING FLAGS, A SPREADWING EAGLE, AND SALIOR-BRAIDED ROPE FRINGE, ca 1898-99

Available: Sold
Frame Size (H x L): 42.5" x 79.5"
Flag Size (H x L): 32.25" x 68.5"
Description....:
PATRIOTIC BANNER DEPICTING THE U.S.S. MONTEREY, FRAMED BY BILLOWING FLAGS, A SPREADWING EAGLE, AND SALIOR-BRAIDED ROPE FRINGE, ca 1898-99:

This demilune-shaped, patriotic banner was probably made in 1898 or 1899 in celebratory recognition of the Spanish-American War service of the U.S.S. Monterey, a San Franciso-built American gun ship. Painted in oil on heavy sailcloth canvas, it features a naive depiction of the ship on an attractive, choppy blue ocean, framed by an arch of billowing flags, at the top of which is a spread-winged eagle beneath a single, gold star. The eagle holds a gold streamer in its mouth, on which the name of the ship is painted in shadowed, red and black letters.

One of the banner's most interesting features is the sailor-braided, cotton rope fringe that decorates the lower edge. With bold colors and graphics, the unusual banner has a striking presentation.

Some notes on Monitors and the History of the U.S.S. Monterey The Monterey was a 4,084 ton, 261-foot, Miantonomoh or Monterey Class monitor that served the U.S. Navy from 1893 through WWI. A monitor was a class of relatively small warship that was neither fast nor strongly armored, but carried disproportionately large guns. This particular U.S.S. Monterey was the second U.S. Navy ship to go by that name. Built by Union Iron Works in San Francisco, it was laid down on the 20th of December, 1889, launched on April 28th, 1891, and commissioned on February 13th, 1893. The Monterey operated along the west coast before it was sent to the Philippines for service under Admiral Dewey during the Span-Am War (1898). In 1900, post-war, it was reboilered at Hong Kong and served on China Station, primarily at Shanghai, from 1900 to 1903. Decommissioned to reserve in the Philippines on the 15th of December, 1904, it was recommissioned from September 28th, 1907 to the 7th of May, 1908, but was again placed in commissioned reserve until November 9th, 1911, when it was recommissioned to serve once again on China Station through 1913, when it was again decommissioned to reserve on February 11th. It was recommissioned for WWI service in mid-1914, but remained mostly inactive. In 1917 the Monterey was towed to Pearl Harbor where it served as station ship and submarine tender until decommissioned for disposal 27 August 1921. The ship was sold on the 25th of February, 1922, towed to California and scrapped.

Mounting: The textile has been hand-stitched to 100% cotton, black in color, which was washed to reduce excess dye. And 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. A shadow-box was built to accommodate the fringe. The front is U.V. protective acrylic.

Condition: Minor in-painting was undertaken to lessen the effects of paint-loss that occurred over time from folds. There is minor wear along the edges. There is stretching and losses in the cotton fringe, which is evenly toned from water staining. The banner was probably hung outdoors for a period of time.
Collector Level: Advanced Collectors and the Person with Everything
Flag Type: Sewn flag
Star Count:
Earliest Date of Origin: 1898
Latest Date of Origin: 1899
State/Affiliation: California
War Association: 1898 Spanish American War
Price: SOLD
 

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