1. Category:
  2. Three-dimensional Objects (856)

Splinters from Fort Sumter flag staff

Creator:
unknown
Location:
Unknown place made
Origin Date:
1861-1900
Materials:
cloth, paper, wood
Measurements:
overall: 3 in x 5 1/2 in
Item ID:
71.2009.082.0889
Holding Institution:
Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection, courtesy of the Indiana State Museum
Available for Viewing:
No
Category:
Three-dimensional Objects

Description

This handmade memento consists of two very small (1-1/8 by 1-5/8 inch) silk flags with wood splinters pasted to one side of each flag to resemble flag poles. The flags are pasted to a 3 by 5-1/2 inch piece of paper. The flag to the viewer's left has a handcolored blue background with a palmetto tree and crescent moon to resemble the state flag of South Carolina. The other flag has been handcolored depicting a blue field on which are seven white stars forming a circle. The remainder of the flag has two red stripes with a white stripe between so that it resembles the Confederate flag used during the United States Civil War. Below the flags handwritten in faded black ink is a label reading "A splinter from the flag staff shot down on Fort Sumpter." The paper with the flags on it is pasted in the upper left corner to a piece of card stock. Part of the Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection, courtesy of the Indiana State Museum