Flag Holder

About this artwork

Artists often decorate flag holders with patriotic symbols and colors. In this piece, made in the nineteenth century, the artist painted three stars around two crossed American flags. The flag on the right has twenty-one stars, while the other has twenty-two. This may symbolize the twenty-first and twenty-second states, Illinois and Alabama, who joined the Union in 1818 and 1819.

Art Historical Context

Nestled in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Decorative Arts collection, this 19th-century *Flag Holder* exemplifies the era's fervent patriotism through everyday objects. Crafted by an unidentified artist, it features two crossed American flags encircled by three bold stars, all rendered in vibrant red, white, and blue—the iconic colors of the Stars and Stripes. As a piece of folk decorative art, it would have adorned homes or public spaces, serving both functional and symbolic purposes during a time of national expansion and pride. The flags' star counts offer a fascinating historical clue: the right flag boasts 21 stars, likely nodding to Illinois, the 21st state admitted in 1818, while the left's 22 stars evoke Alabama, joining in 1819. This detail captures the young republic's growing Union, a period marked by westward expansion and the War of 1812's lingering spirit of unity. Such motifs were common in American folk art, blending craftsmanship with civic devotion. Today, gifted by Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr. and museum purchase, this artifact invites us to reflect on how ordinary Americans expressed loyalty through art, turning a simple holder into a miniature monument of national identity.

About the Artist

Unidentified ( ) · –