REGIMENTAL COLORS - HISTORICAL RESEARCH (3)

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Detail of painting on Regimental Color

Fringe was found to be of 2 types:

Observations

Painting - National Colors were painted on both sides with the paint on the reverse side being the mirror image of the front. The Regimental Colors had, in many cases, the standard regulation eagle, olive branch, arrows, rays of stars and ribbons for regimental ID. In some cases, the state seal was substituted and painted on both sides. It was observed that these flags were "silk burdened" and the paint after 140 years was very un-elastic in nature. Modifications were present with the state name inserted in the eagle's sheild top in one instance and it was evident that each flag was a creation unto itself. Color blends, lettering fonts and shading were all unique to each flag. The original resin paint seemed in a couple cases as "new" on a few of the late war Regimental flags.

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Fringe - The fringe was found on all samples inspected with a variation in that some flags had the fringe stop at the sleeve junction and some fringe circled the top of the sleeve. This is also evident on flags observed in other collections and since it is not specified within the regulations, I am sure is a matter of preference on the part of the flag manufacturer.

Metallic Fringe, Cord and Tassel

Metallic - A number of flags had a metallic fringe that was a coarse wound fringe that appears tarnished or darkened in some cases. Some of the remaining fringe of this type had some significant shine to it leading me to believe it was likely a very fine silver wire with gold wash??.. tarnished as the gold wore a bit. I need to say that I am not totally sure of its composition at the writing of this article but will update it when I find out.

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Knotted Silk Fringe

Knotted Silk - A majority of the National and Regimental Colors had what can be described as a fine silk strand of about 2.5 inches in length with a knot about half way down each strand. The lower portion of the strand was frayed out giving the fringe a soft flowing look similar to the feathered hair of a show dog. Color was a straw gold color bordering on metallic. This color was uniform throughout this type of finge.

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