Textile Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Presented here is a 13-star American flag, circa 1890-1910. The stars are arranged in rows of 3-2-3-2-3, which is the most recurring pattern of 13-star flags in the late 19th and ear...

Ghana, 1970s Fante Asafo flag in cotton applique patters. Fante People. Asafo Flags are created by the Fante people of Ghana. The flags are visual representations of military o...

CALIFORNIA STATE / BEAR FLAG WITH GOLD SILK FRINGE, CA 1950-60 Early state flags fall between very scarce and extraordinarily rare in the antiques marketplace. One primary reason for this is that most states, even if they existed during the 18th or 19th century, didn’t actually adopt flags until the early 20th century. The Maryland State Legislature, for example, didn’t find need for a state banner until 1904, in spite of the fact that Maryland was one of the original 13 colonies. Other states had crests or symbols that were tied to the state legislature in some way, or to local patriotism, but didn't accept an official design until many years following statehood. In the case of California, the "Bear Flag," as all California state flags and variations thereof are often called, is based on a significant early example. The eldest surviving Bear Flag is thought to date to the 1846 “Bear Flag Revolt”. This occurred when Major John Fremont arrived in the state on a so-called Mission to reach the Pacific and encouraged an uprising against Mexican rule in the territory. Fremont claimed himself military governor of the California Republic and was brought up on charges of treason for his actions, but was pardoned by President James Polk. Polk was an expansionist and Fremont’s actions brought California to statehood in 1850, immediately following the 1849 Gold Rush. The original Bear Flag was designed and made by William L. Todd, a first cousin to Abraham Lincoln’s wife, Mary Todd. Painted on cotton, it had a white field with a red stripe along the bottom, just the like modern design. The star image was taken from what was known as the “California Lone Star Flag”, flown during California's previous, 1836 revolt. Like the modern California flag, the red star appeared the upper hoist-end corner, but the bear was placed next to the star. On a later version, designed by a man named Peter Storm...

This striking, hand-painted textile banner features a 44-star flag and the words "The Triumphant Banner." By the last quarter of the 19th century, fla...