A Revelation of the American Flag as Art and as Social History

 From the Collection of Boleslaw and Marie Louise Mastai

The antique American flags shown here with permission were part of the collection of Mr. and Mrs. Boleslaw Mastai, formerly of New York City. The collection wass the result of fifty years of research and study by the team. All the flags are illustrated and described in their book, that was hailed as "a revelation of the American Flag as art and as social history"; The Stars and The Stripes; The American Flag from Birth of the Republic to the Present, by Boleslaw and Marie-Louise d'Otrange Mastai (Published by Alfred Knopf, New York 1973, Book-of-the Month 1973). The Mastai's are deceased and their lives' work was sold at auction by Sotheby's in 2002. This exhibit remains as a tribute to their passion for the art and social history of the American Flag.

The magnificent soaring eagle, gripping in its talons "The Banner of Liberty" showing thirteen stars, was painted by an anonymous artist in the early years of the republic. The sun rising over a mountain range symbolizes the dawn of American Independence.

"The Prisoner's Flag" was made by an American prisoner of war on a prison ship in Devon, England. Improvised from material the prisoner had on hand, the white stripes are of silk ribbon stitched to a ground of red wool twill (a British officer's redcoat?) The canton of thirteen stars rests on the fourth red stripe, the "war stripe".

The pattern of the thirteen stars placed in a graceful oval was originally created by Major Pierre L'Efant, designer of the city of Washington, for the membership diploma of the Patriotic Society of the Cincinnati. In this example, the thirteen stars are painted with gold dust in the manner of medieval illumination.

The use of blue stars in this flag of the Revolutionary period suggests militia use. The omission of the thirteenth stripe probably indicates the loss of a state to the British during the conflict. The band at the bottom was added in 1880 during the presidential campaign of that year, when Winfield Scott English (a former Civil War general) and William Hayden English ran on the Democratic ticket.

The flag of the twenty stars remained valid for the shortest, period from April 13, 1818 to July 4, 1819. It is the prototype of the modern American flag, as the Act to Establish the Flag specified thirteen permanent stripes and as many stars as there are states. The flag shown here is believed to be the only twenty-star flag of the period in existence.

An early example of the famous "Great Star" pattern, this flag of twenty-six stars is of the type that was made familiar throughout the world by Yankee clippers from the first decade of the nineteenth century until the outbreak of the Civil War.

The canton of this of thirty-one stars is a variation of the "square" pattern used during the War of Independence as recorded by the American painter John Trumbull in his historic canvases, The Surrender at Saratoga, 1778 and The Surrender at Yorktown, 1781. It was also a favorite naval pattern well into the nineteenth century.

In contract to the preceding, this flag, also of thirty-one stars, is of the "scatter" pattern, with the stars seemingly thrown haphazard on the blue ground, forming a scintillating constellation.

This printed silk, made in 1859, evidences the continued popularity of the "Great Star" pattern on the eve of the Civil War.

Five asymmetric petal shapes loop out from the off-center heart of a graceful "Great Flower" pattern of thirty-four stars (1861). The candy-stripe band at left adds a whimsical touch. This unique example, designer unknown, has become known as "The Candy-Stripe Flag".

This oversized flag of the Civil War era bears an admirable - but to date still unidentified - motto to end all political mottoes! OUR POLICY THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE

On another great flag of the Civil War era, five bold clusters of full-blown stars are placed to form a cross of St. Andrews, while the four single stars suggest the cross of St. George. This extraordinarily beautiful design also evokes, more poetically, great white blossoms or magnified snow crystals.

Probably the most beautiful flag in the Mastai Collection - and possibly of all antique American flags know to have survived - this flag, known as "The Great Flower Flag", was flown over the Merchants Exchange in New York City during the Civil War.

The unusual length of the field of stripes indicates that this great standard was probably a naval flag. The pattern is basically a square "phalanx" of militarily aligned stars, with two independent "leaders" at left, and two "stragglers" at right. The result of this arrangement is a striking and very likely unique interpretation of the theme.

This swallow-tailed Civil War guidon is notable on two counts. One is the unusually light blue color of the canton. It is known that guidons with a light-blue canton were produced at that time but, never issued to the troops. The museum of the West Point Academy has in its collection an unidentified thirty-four star guidon with its canton, however, of the standard tint of dark blue. It is not known for what the large letter "L" stands, whether it is the initial letter for place name or represents the number fifty for a division or regiment.

An early example, dated "Savannah, May 1861, of the first Confederate Flag, The "Stars and Bars", of seven stars, for the first seven states to secede.

This unique regimental banner shows twelve stars in place of the official eleven which was the utmost total of the Confederate States. It also bears the Comwellian motto: "GOD ARMETH THE PATRIOT", which had already appeared on the standard of a Nashville regiment in 1813.

The larger central star of this "Stars and Bars" of eleven stars was known as "The Virginia Star", in token of reverence to "The Old Dominion".

When exhibited at what was termed a "Sanitary Fair" (held for the benefit of military hospitals during the Civil War) this banner of thirteen stars was labeled "The Old Flag of the War". It was expressive of loyalty to the Union.

One of a pair of personal flags used by General George Brinton McClellan when he stood in 1864 as presidential candidate against Lincoln. The second flag bears his name, also silk-embroidered, but on the bottom white stripe.

The "Windblown Flag" of thirty-six stars was once the possession of Civil War veteran, Louis Bernard, later a pioneer in Oregon. The canton's illusionistic design that appears to taper at one end, creates the impression that the flag is in motion - or "windblown" - even when at rest, as shown here.

This brilliant "Great Star" flag was edged with black crape on the occasion of Lincoln's funeral. This was not removed and the flag served again in this guise for the mourning of the other assassinated American presidents, including that of President Kennedy.

This great "medallion" flag shows an inner ring of thirteen stars symbolizing the original union, and an outer ring of twenty-four stars representing the states that had been admitted to the Union since. Simple and majestic at once, it may be said to represent the summit of American flag designing and flag making, as the nation entered the period of the First Centennial.

In this interpretation of the double-wreath pattern, the larger star at center, or "guest of honor", stands for Colorado admitted last to the Union on August 1, 1876.

Here, the crossing diagonal lines of stars outline the cross of St. Andrew. But, if the flag is placed upright, it will be seen that the arrangement also depicts the shape of an hour-glass with two stars representing two centuries, in the process of dropping to the bottom of the glass. We have here therefore possibly the most original conception celebrating the advent of the First Centennial.

This "phalanx" flag of thirty-eight stars achieves special design distinction because of the wide, even margin that surrounds, and admirably sets off, its starry constellation

At the time of the First Centennial, the addition of words and dates, or other extraneous designs - such as inscriptions, portraits, etc. - was not yet deemed reprehensible. Quite the contrary, such were thorough to represent and intimate personal relationship with the beloved national symbol.

The McNamara Flag - so-called from the name of its original orwner, Matthew McNamar - is notable for the triads of stars in each corner of the canton. It also boasts an unofficial count of stars: thirty-nine.

A near-centenarian descendant of Betsy Ross adorned this small, silk flag with a dainty "wreath" of flower-like white stars. The head-band reads, in here own hand "First Flag made in 1777 by Betsy Ross. This copy of the original Flag made in Dec. 1904 by Rachel Albright, aged 92y. 6m. Granddaughter of Betsy Ross." While it is likely to remain securely ensconced as part of American folklore, the Betsy Ross myth is not acceptable to scholars of the flag and to historians.

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Please note, I am not a collector of flags, nor am I an appraiser. I am not able to help you with flag identification or values. You may wish to check with a local antique dealer who may be able to lead you to an appropriate source. CST

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