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Homemade, Antique American Flag with Exceptional Folk Qualities, 1896-1908

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About the Item

HOMEMADE, ANTIQUE AMERICAN FLAG WITH A TINY CANTON RESTING ON THE 6TH STRIPE AND AN EXTREMELY FOLKY PRESENTATION OF 45 STARS IN A “NOTCHED” PATTERN THAT MIGHT BE UNIQUE TO THIS EXAMPLE; REFLECTS THE ERA WHEN UTAH WAS THE MOST RECENT STATE TO JOIN THE UNION, 1896-1908 45 star American national flag, homemade and with a host of unusual and graphically compelling features. Chief among these are the size and placement of the blue canton against the striped field, and the especially whimsical nature of the stars within. Note how the latter present like living starfish, with arms of varying shape and size, bent this way and that, intertwined in a space too small for their number. These are arranged in haphazard rows of 7-8-7-8-7-8, in what was intended to be a “notched” pattern, that leaves three open spaces for Western Territories yet-to-be-added, only one of which is truly large enough to accomplish the task in a reasonable manner, even with an extra degree of leniency. Note how the canton, tiny in scale, rests on the 6th stripe. Because there were no specified proportions for the American national flag until 1912, and no specified placement of the canton against the striped field, there was no right or wrong in this regard. Even so, the canton of most flags, homemade or commercially-made alike, almost always rested on the 8th stripe. Note how the stars toward the hoist end are more evenly spread, while those toward the fly become more jumbled as they progress, so that an arm of the last star, in each of the longest rows, actually touches the edge, like swimmers in a race. The combination of all of the above results in a very beautiful flag from a folk are perspective, with elements that seem both old and modernistic. The stars of the flag are made of plain weave cotton and are double-appliquéd, meaning that they are applied to both sides. These are hand-sewn on the obverse (front), and all except two (the first star in the 4th row, and the first star in the last row, which are hand-sewn) are appliquéd by treadle stitching on the reverse. The stripes of the flag are likewise of cotton and are treadle sewn throughout. These were joined to the canton in the same manner. There is a plain weave cotton binding along the hoist, with two whip-stitched grommets, With metal rings inserted for stability. The canton is constructed of a single width of fabric that comprises most of its surface area, to which a small piece of the same fabric was added in the top, hoist end corner. This is not a gusset, but rather is inserted into the larger piece of fabric and joined to it by a combination of hand and treadle stitching. In spite of its location, at one of the four points in which a flag receives the most stress when flown, this actually appears to be original to the flag’s construction. It may be that the first two stars in the 1st row were removed and re-applied, so that a repair could be made, but it doesn't appear so. The canton was hemmed along the top edge with treadle stitching, and the top of the first stripe has been hemmed in the same fashion. The canton has been joined to the striped field by treadle stitching. The bottom of the last stripe has a selvedge edge. When Utah finally entered the Union as the 45th state on January 4th, 1896, it had been attempting to gain statehood for many years. It remained a territory primarily due to the fact that the Mormon Church and Utah authorities continued to be openly tolerant of polygamy. In 1890, Mormon Church President Wilford Woodruff published a manifesto that denounced the contract of “any marriages forbidden by the law of the land”. This gave way to Utah’s 1896 acceptance. The 45 star flag was generally used from that year until 1907, when Oklahoma joined the Union. Due to the Spanish-American War (1898) and Teddy Roosevelt’s famous world tour of the “White Fleet” (launched in 1907), this was an extremely patriotic period. Presidents who served during this period were Democrat Grover Cleveland, in his second, non-consecutive term, the two terms of Republican William McKinley (the second cut short by his 1901), and the two terms of Theodore Roosevelt, the first of these gained by ascension when McKinley passed. Mounting: For 25 years we have maintained a specialized department for this purpose. Our lead conservator holds a master's degree in textile conservation from one of the nation’s top university programs. We take great care in the mounting and preservation of flags and related textiles and have preserved thousands of examples. The flag has been hand-stitched to 100% silk organza throughout for support (flat-lined). The black-painted and hand-gilded molding, with its wide, serpentine profile, is Italian. The background is 100% cotton twill, black in color, that has been washed and treated for colorfastness. The glazing is U.V. protective acrylic (Plexiglas). Condition: In addition to the aforementioned length of fabric and the upper, hoist and a corner, which appears to be original to the flags construction in spite of its appearance, there are minor to modest incidents of soiling and staining in the striped field, the most significant of which occurs in the white stripes. A series of tiny holes and associated rust marks along the binding suggests that the flag was not only tied to a wooden staff at the top and bottom, by way of the brass grommets, but affixed to it between these points with tiny metal tacks. There is a scattering of very minor holes in both the canton and the striped field. There is minor fabric loss with associated frame in the top, fly and corner. A tiny length of fabric of similar coloration was placed behind this area for masking purposes. Many of my clients prefer early flags to show their age and history of use. Frame Size (H x L): Approx. 60.5" x 87" Flag Size (H x L): 48.25" x 75"

Dimensions:
Height: 60.5 in (153.67 cm)Width: 87 in (220.98 cm)Depth: 2.5 in (6.35 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Cotton
Place of Origin:
United States
Period:
1890-1899
Date of Manufacture:
1896-1908
Condition:
See Item Description.
Seller Location:
York County, PA
Reference Number:
Seller: 45j-10091stDibs: LU849743950572