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California State Flag, 1940-1950, Made By Paramount
$995List Price
About the Item
19th century state flags fall between very scarce and extraordinarily rare in the antiques marketplace. One primary reason for this is that most states didn’t even adopt flags until the 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.
In some cases, state flags were based on earlier prototypes. The eldest surviving “Bear Flag”, as all California state flags and variations thereof are often called, 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—orange in color—was small, placed next to the star, and was standing. On the modern design it is black and brown, centered on the field, prominently huge, and walking. On Todd’s flag, the words “California Republic” were likewise in black, but the letters spanned the width of the star and bear images and were placed immediately below them. Today they are underneath the large bear, just above the red bar.
Unfortunately, the original Bear Flag was destroyed in the fires following the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, but an image of it survives in a photograph taken in 1890.
States regularly participating in World’s Fair events—popular between the late 19th and early 20th centuries—were probably compelled to create state banners because other states had them, so it would have seemed improper not to obtain one and follow suit.
Because state flags are desired by modern antiques enthusiasts and because early copies are scarce or non-existent, I am sometimes compelled to acquire interesting vintage examples from the mid-20th century. This ca 1940-50 era California “bear flag” is a nice example, obviously flown and slightly soiled from use.
Construction: The flag is made of cotton bunting, sewn in two panels, the top one is the white field, while the lower was dyed red to create the red bar. The imagery is printed in four colors. There is a cotton header along the hoist with two brass grommets, along which are three different identifying stamps from a California maker. The first, printed ion dark blue ink, reads: "Ajax Heavy Weight Cotton; Paramount Flag Co. San Francisco". The second, executed with a black stamp or stencil reads "Bear". And the third, printed or stamped in a different blue, reads "4 x 6 ft". Paramount was in business as early as the 1940's, possibly prior. Ajax was a brand name of the Paramount company.
Mounting: The flag has not yet been mounted. Please be aware that we have a full time conservation staff that can properly mount the flag for an additional charge. This would involve hand-stitching it to 100% silk organza for support, then hand-sewing it to a background of your choice, with a supportive backboard with a wooden strainer frame behind. The flag can be hung on this mount without framing, but the mount also prepares the flag for framing.
Condition: There is minor to moderate soiling throughout, accompanied by attractive fading.
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1940-1960
- Condition:See Item Description.
- Seller Location:York County, PA
- Reference Number:Seller: ofj-8481stDibs: U1109198497451
About the Seller
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