25132

Unique 21 Star Silk American National Flag

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Historical Memorabilia Start Price:8,750.00 USD Estimated At:35,000.00 - 50,000.00 USD
Unique 21 Star Silk American National Flag
<B>Unique 21 Star Silk American National Flag</B></I> whose marvelous animated embroidered stars are configured in a double irregular medallion-like pattern of ten stars encircling a wreath of five stars with smaller stars interspersed between each star of the inner medallion or wreath, all surrounding a central star. There are actually two full similar but non-identical flags that are sewn back-to-back so that their unfinished stripes on the reverse are not visible. The metallic fringe, on three sides, and the braided red silk rope along the hoist (left side of a flag) are all hand-sewn with the identical red thread and collectively hold the two flags together. The embroidered stars and the irregularity of the star configuration add greatly to the folk art appeal of this flag, a wonderful example of the first truly American folk art form. <BR><BR>The cantons and all stripes are hand-sewn silk. On one flag, the 4th white stripe is pieced below the canton while stripes 8, 9, 10, and 11 are pieced near the hoist on the other flag. Piecing of fabric is thought to be the result of the scarcity of materials at the time a flag was fabricated. The silk does not appear to be "weighted." The "weighting" of silk, to increase its cost as a raw material, probably began in the late 1820s to 1830 period. By the Civil War, most commercially and professionally prepared silk flags, including Federal standards, regimental flags, and Stars and Stripes, were made of "weighted" silk which accounts for the severe age damage most have experienced. (Purchaser could have flag chemically analyzed to ascertain definitively if flag is made of "weighted" silk, and if so, what metallic salt was utilized.) <BR><BR>The braided rope, along the hoist side, includes five integral loops that presently hang from a modern café curtain rod. In addition, there are two later black silk satin ties that are used t