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Arts and Crafts Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

ARTS AND CRAFTS STYLE

Emerging in reaction to industrialization and mass production, the Arts and Crafts movement celebrated handcrafted design as a part of daily life. The history of Arts and Crafts furniture has roots in 1860s England with an emphasis on natural motifs and simple flourishes like mosaics and carvings. This work is characterized by plain construction that showcases the hand of the artisan.

The earliest American Arts and Crafts furniture dates back to the start of the 20th century. Designers working in this style in the United States initially looked to ideas put forth by The Craftsman, a magazine published by Wisconsin native Gustav Stickley, a furniture maker and founder of the Craftsman style. Stickley’s furniture was practical and largely free of ornament. His Craftsman style drew on French Art Nouveau as well as the work he encountered on his travels in England. There, the leading designers of the Arts and Crafts movement included William Morris, who revived historical techniques such as embroidery and printed fabrics in his furnishings, and Charles Voysey, whose minimal approach was in contrast to the ornamentation favored in the Victorian era.

American Arts and Crafts work would come to involve a range of influences unified by an elevation of traditional craftsmanship. The furniture was often built from sturdy woods like oak and mahogany while featuring details such as inlaid metal, tooled leather and ceramic tiles. The style in the United States was led by Stickley, whose clean-lined chairs and benches showcased the grain of the wood, and furniture maker Charles Rohlfs, who was informed by international influences like East Asian and French Art Nouveau design.

Hubs in America included several utopian communities such as Rose Valley in Pennsylvania and the Byrdcliffe Arts and Crafts Colony in New York, where craftspeople made furniture that prioritized function over any decoration. Their work would influence designers and architects including Frank Lloyd Wright, who built some of the most elegant and iconic structures in the United States and likewise embraced a thoughtful use of materials in his furniture.

Find antique Arts and Crafts chairs, tables, cabinets and other authentic period furniture on 1stDibs.

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Style: Arts and Crafts
Blue Ceramic Cross with Circular Embellishments, Unique Religious Collectible
Located in Chicago, IL
A midcentury ceramic cross made by Flemish artisan in deep and bright Klein blue. Each tip of the cross and its center are adorned with circular embellishments in hollow relief, addi...
Category

1950s European Vintage Arts and Crafts Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Ceramic

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Large, Decorative Bronze Sculpture of a Spartan Warrior with Sword, Greco Roman
Located in Berlin, DE
Large and decorative bronze sculpture of a Spartan warrior. By Professor Victor Heinrich Seifert. Signed. Excellent masterpiece. On marble base.
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19th Century Austrian Antique Arts and Crafts Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

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Early Folk Art American Two Sided Framed Military Drawing with Map
Located in Savannah, GA
This unusual set of drawings in a double sided frame came out of an old New England Estate in a Beacon Hill, Boston home. From what we have gathered, they are hand-colored drawings o...
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Late 18th Century American Antique Arts and Crafts Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

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Glass, Wood, Paper

Early 20th C. Monumental American Flag with 48 Stars, c.1940-1950
Located in San Francisco, CA
About This is an original monumental American flag made with 48 hand sewn stars and stripes. It is in good condition and has brass grommets to hang. Creator unknown. Date of m...
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Early 20th Century Arts and Crafts Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Brass

Ohio State Parade Flag with a Civil War Veterans Overprint
Located in York County, PA
OHIO STATE FLAG WITH CIVIL WAR VETERANS' OVERPRINT FROM THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC POST IN COLUMBUS, MADE IN MOURNING OF THE 1925 PASSING OF NATIONAL G.A.R. COMMANDER IN CHIEF DANIEL M. HALL, WHO ALSO SERVED AS COMMANDER OF THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF THE G.A.R., AS WELL AS THE LOCAL CHAPTER Flag of the State of Ohio, printed on oilcloth-like cotton, affixed to its original wooden staff. Made for Civil War veteran's use, the flag bears a stamped overprint in the striped field that consists of an open wreath of laurel branches, inside which is the following text: “GAR [Grand Army of the Republic] Post, Dan Hall, Columbus, OH”. Born on October 20th, 1842, Daniel M. Hall enlisted with the Union Army as a Private at the age of 18 on August 25th, 1861. On October 8th of that year he mustered into the Co. H of the 2nd Ohio Cavalry. Discharged for disability on June 28th, 1862, he reenlisted approximately 17 months later, on November 11th, 1863, and mustered into Co. F of the 12th Ohio Cavalry at Camp Cleveland. He was at some point promoted to the rank of Sergeant, and, on February 21st, 1864, to the rank of Corporal. He mustered out at Nashville on November 14th, 1865. Hall mustered into the Hamlin Post of the Ohio G.A.R. on May 23rd, 1883. He would go on to serve not only as Commander of the Dept. of Ohio for the organization, but as National Commander of the entire Grand Army of the Republic. The Grand Army of the Republic was the primary veterans association for Union Civil War soldiers. Founded in 1866, its members dressed up in Civil War uniforms, attended parades and reunions, and the organization was somewhat more fraternal in nature than today’s VFW or American Foreign Legion. Flags overprinted for the purpose of advertising are a specialized form in American flag collecting. A flag with a basic G.A.R. overprint is the most common type. This might be accompanied by a post number and a date. More elaborate the overprints are more highly desired, such as this one, which is the only variation I know of that honors a particular person who was not the namesake of the chapter itself. It is of interest to note that a sister variety of 48 star parade flag is known, printed on the same fabric, that bears the same overprint, accompanied by the words: “We Mourn Our Comrade." From the additional text on the 48 star variety, one can extrapolate that the flags were made to mourn the passing of this important leader of Civil War veterans on October 19th, 1925, just one day before his 83rd birthday. The State Flag of Ohio was designed in 1901 by Cleveland architect John Eisenmann, who designed the Ohio building for the state's exhibition at the Pan American Exposition World's Fair in Buffalo, New York. It was officially adopted by the Ohio legislature on May 19th, 1902. It's elements are centered on a red disc, set against a circular white ground that forms a letter "O." This simultaneously represents a buckeye, the fruit of the state tree and an iconic Ohio symbol. The flag's 5 stripes are said to represent the state's waterways and roads, while the triangular shape of the union is said to illustrate hills and valleys. The presentation of 13 stars along the hoist end, arranged in a semi-circular medallion with two off-set stars above and below, reflects the original 13 colonies. The diamond of stars, towards the fly end. bring the overall count to 17 to reflect Ohio's admission. When the design was adopted by the state legislature, the position of these stars was changed slightly, moving them further around the circle to form a wreath. Flag expert Whitney Smith, who coined the term Vexillology in the late 1950's (the accepted term for the study of flags), pointed out that the format of the flag itself was reminiscent of Civil War cavalry guidons, carried by Ohio regiments throughout the state. These were of swallowtail form, though with 13 stripes, all horizontal and 90 degrees to the hoist. Most often these had circular star patterns around an open center, which makes them even more similar to the Ohio flag...
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1920s American Vintage Arts and Crafts Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Cotton

Three Embossed Metal Cultural Revolution Plaques with Images of Mao
Located in New York, NY
Three cultural revolution period embossed metal plaques, each with the image of Chairman Mao, one plaque also including images of the leaders of Russian communism. Priced and sold ...
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Late 20th Century Chinese Arts and Crafts Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Metal

39-Star Antique American Flag with 'Whimsical' Star Pattern, 1889
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
This is a 39-star unofficial American flag, handmade and printed on cotton. The flag dates to 1889 and has a unique history, thanks to its rare star-count. The flag’s canton is prin...
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1880s American Antique Arts and Crafts Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Cotton

Very Tall Wooden Uncle Sam Flag Holder with Old Paint
Located in New York, NY
A nicely carved, brightly painted figure of Uncle Sam mounted on two wooden blocks. This large piece, painted on both sides, stands at more than six feet tall. A Classic Folk Art pie...
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1960s American Vintage Arts and Crafts Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Wood

President Dwight D. Eisenhower Commemorative Ceramic Plate
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A round ceramic commemorative plate of President Dwight Eisenhower. The plate is circular, with gold detail around the edges, and a portrait of Presi...
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20th Century North American Arts and Crafts Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Gold

William & Mary Rare Pewter Trefid Spoon with Portraits, Circa 1690
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
Very rare William and Mary pewter trefid spoon the handle molded in relief with portraits and dating from around 1690. The spoon has an elongated rounded ...
Category

17th Century English Antique Arts and Crafts Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Pewter

Early 20th c. Monumental American Flag with 48 Stars, c.1940-1950
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT This is an original monumental American flag made by Valley Forge Co. with 48 hand sewn stars and stripes. It is in good condition and has metal grommets to hang. CREATO...
Category

Early 20th Century Arts and Crafts Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Fabric

38-Star Antique American Flag with Unique Canton, circa 1876-1890
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
This is a striking 38-star American flag. The flag dates to 1876-1890, when Colorado (represented by the large star in the center of the flag’s canton) joined the Union as the 38th s...
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Late 19th Century American Antique Arts and Crafts Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

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Muslin

1940s Italian Photograph with Wooden Frame
Located in High Point, NC
A black and white photograph in a wooden frame from 1940s Italy, depicting a parade or official gathering. The photograph would have been taken during the years of the Mussolini dict...
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1940s Italian Vintage Arts and Crafts Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

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Previously Available Items
48-Star Whipple Parade Pennant, Circa 1915
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
This is a beautiful example of a printed Whipple star flag pennant. In the first decade of the twentieth century, a contest to design a classical style of American heraldry was held....
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1910s American Vintage Arts and Crafts Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Fabric

Antique Suffragette Car Badge "Join the Drive, Votes for Women", circa 1905-1914
Located in York County, PA
Antique brass suffragette car badge with text that reads: "Join the drive" and "Votes for women," British, circa 1905-1914: Car badges were affixed to a ...
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Early 20th Century British Arts and Crafts Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Brass

Socialism is the Hope of the World Banner, English. circa 1890
Located in Essex, MA
A rare, mint condition English Arts & Crafts period banner, with the words Socialism The Hope of the World in a ribbon banner below two flying birds flanking a beautifully stylized t...
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1890s English Antique Arts and Crafts Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Cotton

Arts And Crafts political and patriotic memorabilia for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Arts and Crafts political and patriotic memorabilia for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Mid-20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage political and patriotic memorabilia created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include folk art and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, fabric and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Arts and Crafts political and patriotic memorabilia made in a specific country, there are Europe, North America, and United States pieces for sale on 1stDibs. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for political and patriotic memorabilia differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $250 and tops out at $4,500 while the average work can sell for $2,375.

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