U.S. 38 Stars - Vertical Hourglass Pattern

Sub-collection: Mastai - Early American Flags

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Main Description

U.S. 38 Stars - Vertical Hourglass Pattern
This large 38 star machine sewn wool U.S. flag bears a unique canton pattern. Previous owners have interpreted this flag in a number of different ways. It was once part of the flag collection of a noted antique dealer, Mr. Boleslaw Mastai and his wife Marie-Louise d'Otrange Mastai, formerly of New York City, and later of Amagansett, Long Island.

As a collector Mastai often attributed fanciful names to star patterns appearing on his flags. Most of these names are not known to have been used historically and were generally descriptive. He interpreted this flag in several ways. In 1973 Mastai speculated that the diagonal of the star pattern was similar to St. Andrews cross, and therefore might represent some residual loyalty to the defunct Confederate States of America.

In 1979 Mastai publicly displayed the flag and named it the "Hourglass Flag", for when the flag is turned sideways the shape resembles an hourglass. Of the flags produced for the Centennial celebrations of 1876, the "Hourglass Flag" is perhaps the most unique.

The objective of the maker is unfortunately unknown. Some historians have interpreted it as crossing diagonal stars, a starburst, and a gentleman's bowtie, however none resonate quite as well as Mastai's "Hourglass".

This flag is a superlative example of not only the 38 star era, and the Centennial celebrations of the United States, but also bears one of the most outstanding cantons.

Exhibition History:

"Our Unknown Flag", Almost 250 Flags and Artifacts from the famous Mastai Collection, New York , United States Custom House, 6 World Trade Center, New York, NY, June14-july 28, 1987, #215.

Publication History:
Mastai, Boleslaw and Marie-Louise D'Otrange, The Stars and The Stripes: The American Flag as Art and as History from the Birth of the republic to the Present, Knopf, New York, 1973, p.116.

Provenance:
â€¢ Acquired by Mr. & Mrs. Boleslaw & Marie-Louise D'Otrange Mastai, New York City, and Amagansett, NY, The Mastai Collection, until 2002.
â€¢ Sold via Sotheby's Auction in New York City to the Zaricor Flag Collection, 2002.

Sources:

Mastai, Boleslaw and Marie-Louise D'Otrange, The Stars and The Stripes: The American Flag as Art and as History from the Birth of the republic to the Present, Knopf, New York, 1973.

Hourglass Design, 38 Star Flag - (1877-1890) (U.S.), Flags of the World, 23 June 2013, from: http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/us-1877.html

Cynthia S. Terwilliger, A Revelation of the American Flag as Art and as Social History, 23 June 2013, from: http://cterwilliger.com/americanflagcollection/flagexhibit.
Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC) Archives, 2013.

Image Credits:
Zaricor Flag Collection

Measurements

Hoist & Fly
Width of Hoist	72.5
Length of Fly	127

Union/Canton
Width of Union/Canton	39
Length of Union/Canton	52

Stars
Size of Stars	5.5

Stripes
Size of Hoist	2

Frame
Is it framed?	no

Attributes

Stars
Number of Stars	38
How are the stars embeded?	Machine Stitched
Are there stars on obverse?	yes
Are there stars on reverse?	yes
Star Field Design	Other star field pattern

Stripes
Number of Stripes	13
Color of Top Stripe	Red
Color of Bottom Stripe	Red
Has a Blood Stripe?	no

Nationality
Nation Represented	United States

Properties

Fabric
Fabric	Wool
Comments on Fabric	Stars are cotton. Bunting

Stitching
Stitching	Machine

Attachment
Comments on Method of Attachmen	Rope is sewn on. Flag heigh with rope is 76".
Method of Attachment	Rope

Applica
Applique Sides	Single Faced = Mirror Image Reverse

Documentation

Documentation
Documents	All original documents and drawings are held in the Zaricor Flag Collection Archives.
Drawings	All original documents and drawings are held in the Zaricor Flag Collection Archives.
Research Documents	All original documents and drawings are held in the Zaricor Flag Collection Archives.
Public Copy & Signs	All original documents and drawings are held in the Zaricor Flag Collection Archives.