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This beautiful late
period medallion flag of 44 stars dates to the last
decade of the 19th century. Medallion pattern
flags became very popular during the American Civil War
from 1861 to 1865, and reached the peak of their
popularity during the American Centennial in 1876, when
flag manufacturers created many fantastic variants of
the type in order to impress and please patriotic
Americans celebrating the 100th anniversary of our
nation's founding. By the 1890s, when this flag
was made, flags were typically made with cantons of
stars in straight rows, which is the expected pattern
most often seen on flags of 42, 44, 45, 46, and 48 star
flags. (Flags of 43 and 47 stars are very rare, but are
also usually found in straight row patterns when
examples occasionally turn up.)
This flag is an example
of a "wreath within a square" pattern, with the four
large corner stars anchoring an outer "box" of stars.
The box contains a double wreath of stars, which in turn
surround the large center star. The bold large
corner stars, and the mass of inner stars which fill the
canton make it a particularly beautiful medallion flag.
The entire flag is made of cotton, with machine stitched
stripes and hand stitched stars. The hoist of the
flag is made of thick cotton and has five circular
whip-stitched grommets, each sewn around an inner ring
to maintain its shape and rigidity. The flag is in
exceptional condition for its age. It is a wonderfully
graphic and beautiful late period medallion and is among
the very best of all surviving examples of the 44 star count.
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