<strong>Fall</strong> <strong>Fine</strong> <strong>Art</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Antique</strong>s <strong>Auction</strong>81: Rare flag & archive from ship "Red White <strong>and</strong> Blue" USD 10,000 - 15,000Flag <strong>and</strong> historical archive relating to the 1866 voyage of the miniature ship The Red White <strong>and</strong> Blue, which in 1866 became thesmallest ship ever to cross the Atlantic. Note: A detailed history of this important nautical cache <strong>and</strong> the ship's voyage, whichcaptured attention <strong>and</strong> created controversy on both sides of the Atlantic, is available to interested parties, <strong>and</strong> includes flaghistory <strong>and</strong> description by Greg Biggs. ITEM 1: 13 star Flag, single ply wool bunting with h<strong>and</strong> appliqued stars. Front hoistinscription "Ship 'Red White <strong>and</strong> Blue'-1866 of NY 2 tons 38/100 registered. To London <strong>and</strong> Paris Exposition = 1867 Capt. JohnM Hudson <strong>and</strong> F. E. Fitch." Reverse hoist inscription reveals flag's original use as a Civil War boat flag: "USSS Flambeau'sPicket boat 2nd cutter 1864, Acting ensign J.M. Hudson." Exhibited Cheekwood Museum of <strong>Art</strong>, "Nashville Collects", circa 1990.31-1/4" H x 45" W. ITEM 2: The ship's log, penned by Captain Hudson, including description of boat, newspaper clippingdescribing the voyage prior to departure, daily entries describing the trip <strong>and</strong> location, <strong>and</strong> details of the events at the CrystalPalace, Paris Exhibition <strong>and</strong> across Europe. Earliest entry date May 9th 1866, through December 27,1867. Log bears label forWilliam H. Ritch, Commission Merchant, Ships Ch<strong>and</strong>ler & Grocer, 39 South Street, Corner Old Slip, New York. ITEM 3: Ovalsilver plated plaque, engraved, "Ingersoll Metallic Life Boat Red White <strong>and</strong> Blue. Ship rigged Sailed from New York, UnitedStates, July 9th 1866. Arrived off Hastings, Engl<strong>and</strong> August 16th 1886. Navigators, Capt. John M. Hudson, <strong>and</strong> Mate Frank E.Fitch. Inventor <strong>and</strong> Builder Oliver Rol<strong>and</strong> Ingersoll. Property of the American Boat & Oar Bazaar. 243 & 245 South <strong>and</strong> 475 &447 Water Street New York." Framed in later gilt frame, not examined out of frame. Exhibited Cheekwood Museum of <strong>Art</strong>,"Nashville Collects", circa 1990. Sight: 8 1/4" H x 10" W Framed: 12" H x 14" W ITEM 4: Two framed prints including Currier <strong>and</strong>Ives lithograph "The Miniature Ship, Red, White, <strong>and</strong> Blue." Print lists information on the size of the boat <strong>and</strong> a brief descriptionof voyage. In later gilt frame. Sight: 9 3/4" H x 14 1/4" W. Framed: 19" H x 23" W. Also a print from an unknown publication:"Red, White, <strong>and</strong> Blue" on display at the Crystal Palace, Paris Exhibition of 1867. In later gilt frame. Sight: 8 7/8" H x 9" W.Framed: 14 1/4" H x 15" W. ITEM 5: a large collection of letters, photocopies, <strong>and</strong> publications pertaining to the ship's crossing<strong>and</strong> career of Captain John Hudson, including the shoulder straps <strong>and</strong> gold braid from his Navy uniform. Provenance: Estate ofA. Welling LaGrone, Jr., Nashville, Tenn. ABOUT THE FLAG: United States Navy vessels of the 19th Century, <strong>and</strong> even now,carried several flags based on the Stars <strong>and</strong> Stripes of the nation. The largest was the ensign, flown from the stern of thewarship. The jack was flown from the bow flag staff only while the ship was in port, while the commission pennant was flownfrom the main mast in the era of sails or a high point in the age of steam. The flags varied in size based on the rating of thewarship. These vessels also carried small boats called gigs, <strong>and</strong> these boats also were equipped with flags. Boat flags cameinto existence in the early 1850s <strong>and</strong> carried, at least based on that used by Commodore Matthew Perry on his voyage toJapan, 31 stars. In 1857, the number of stars was reduced to sixteen. Being smaller flags, the lower number of stars made themmore visible at a distance. In 1862, the Navy Department further reduced the star count to thirteen. This may have been inhomage to the flags of the Continental Navy of the Revolutionary War. From 1862 to 1865, the stars were arranged typically inthree rows with four, five <strong>and</strong> four stars in each from top to bottom of the canton. The boat flag of the U.S.S. Flambeau/RedWhite & Blue is this star pattern. A boat flag with the same star pattern exists in the Zaricor Collection in California. After theCivil War, boat flags were changed to a three, two, three, two, three arrangement, again from top to bottom. According to notedflag historians Howard Madaus <strong>and</strong> David Martucci, these boat flags varied from five through ten feet on the fly with the hoistmeasuring about half of the length. The 1864 U.S. Navy flag regulations (basically revised from the 1854 regulations) listed shipratings ten through fourteen as boat flags. Flags for the tenth rating measured 5.28 feet on the hoist by 10 feet on the fly.Eleventh rated ships carried boat flags of 4.20 feet on the hoist by 8 feet on the fly while twelfth rated ships carried boat flags of3.70 by 7 feet. The thirteenth rated boat flags measured 3.20 feet by 6 feet <strong>and</strong> the fourteenth rates carried flags of 2.50 feet by5 feet. The U.S.S. Flambeau boat flag measures 31 inches by 42 inches which corresponds to a fourteenth rated boat flag. Theflag has been cut down in its fly length by at least 18 inches at some point after the Civil War when it became the flag of the S.S.Red White <strong>and</strong> Blue. This was probably due to the size of that boat being much smaller (only 2 tons) than the U.S.S. Flambeau.The flag is made from single ply wool bunting with the stripes <strong>and</strong> appliquéd stars being h<strong>and</strong> stitched. The cotton canvas hoistedge is marked on the reverse side, “U.S.S. Flambeau Picketboat, 2nd Cutter – 1864. Acting Ensign J. M. Hudson.” The secondcutter marking probably indicates that the warship carried two gigs on board. The U.S.S. Flambeau was built in 1861 as abrigantine initially for the trade routes of China. She was acquired by the U.S. Navy in November of that year to augment theirblockading fleet. Weighing 791 tons, she was 185 feet long by 30 feet wide. With her crew of 92 men, she carried between two<strong>and</strong> five guns during the war. Her career as a blockader was successful with four ships captured as prizes. The U.S.S.Flambeau was sold by the Navy in July 1865 after being decommissioned. As a merchant vessel, she was lost off NorthCarolina in March 1867. Acting Ensign J. M. Hudson left the Navy after the Civil War. He became the skipper of the S.S. RedWhite <strong>and</strong> Blue which became famous in nautical circles for the transiting of the Atlantic Ocean by such a small vessel. His oldboat flag from the war was altered for the Red White <strong>and</strong> Blue, being marked on the obverse hoist edge, “Ship “Red White <strong>and</strong>Blue” of New York – 1866/2 tons – 35/100 Register/ to London <strong>and</strong> Paris Exposition 1867/ Captain J.M. Hudson.” - Flag catalogentry by Greg Biggs.82: Patriotic painted trunk with eagles <strong>and</strong> stars USD 500 - 800Patriotic folk art decorated trunk with Federal Eagle on dome trunk, border of stars <strong>and</strong> red stripes, red ribbon <strong>and</strong> blue stardecoration around front <strong>and</strong> sides of trunk. 13 1/2" H x 27" L x 13 7/8". Mid to late 19th century. Provenance: From the estate ofWelling LaGrone Jr., featured in <strong>Art</strong> & <strong>Antique</strong>s, "Americana the Beautiful," P. 86.83: Calligraphy memorial to George Washington USD 500 - 800Elaborate Spencerian penwork memorial drawing, "Sacred to the memory of the illustrious George Washington/Columbia'sGreat <strong>and</strong> Successful Son/Honored be his name." Pen <strong>and</strong> paper, unsigned. Contemporary archival framing with linen mat <strong>and</strong>giltwood frame, 17" x 22" sight, 25" x 30" framed. Early 19th century. Provenance: Estate of A. Welling LaGrone, Jr., Nashville,Tenn.Bid Live Online at Live<strong>Auction</strong>eers.com Page 14
<strong>Fall</strong> <strong>Fine</strong> <strong>Art</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Antique</strong>s <strong>Auction</strong>84: Andrew Jackson parade lantern USD 2,500 - 3,500Punched Tin Andrew Jackson parade lantern, cylindrical with domed top <strong>and</strong> h<strong>and</strong>le, the punched design reading "AndrewJackson Forever" across the body with " Jan 8th 1832 " across the top, surmounted by a row of stars. Exhibited CheekwoodMuseum of <strong>Art</strong>, "Nashville Collects", circa 1990. 13-1/2" H x 5-1/4" diameter. Provenance: estate of A. Welling LaGrone Jr.,Nashville, Tenn., purchased from Sotheby's (lot 762, unknown sale number/date). Note: Jan. 8, 1815 was the date associatedwith General Jackson's victory in the Battle of New Orleans. This was likely a commemorative piece, possibly made around thetime of his re-election.85: Weathervane, Native American with bow <strong>and</strong> arrow USD 200 - 250Folk art painted sheet tin weathervane of a Native American with drawn bow <strong>and</strong> arrow. Later st<strong>and</strong>. 21"x 20 1/4". Late19th/early 20th century. Provenance: estate of A. Welling LaGrone Jr., Nashville, Tenn.86: Weathervane, Native American tending fire USD 200 - 300Sheet copper weathervane of Native American tending a fire. Original iron bracket, displayed on newer st<strong>and</strong>. 22 1/2" H x 18"W. Early 20th century. Provenance: estate of A. Welling LaGrone Jr., Nashville, Tenn.87: Folk <strong>Art</strong> Wooden Carved Figures & Chain USD 300 - 400Carved wood male figures, joined by chains with enclosed balls, all one piece of wood. Unsigned. 73" H x 3" W (approximateoverall). Probably Southern. Late 19th/early 20th century. Provenance: Estate of A. Welling LaGrone, Jr., Nashville, Tenn.88: 19th cent. ship painting, reverse painting on glass USD 300 - 500Nautical ship portrait, reverse painting on glass. Ship flies the Netherl<strong>and</strong>s <strong>and</strong> U.S. flags. Later burlwood frame. Sight - 10" H x13 7/8" W. Framed - 12" H x 16" W.. Circa 1890. Provenance: Estate of A. Welling LaGrone Jr., Nashville, Tenn.89: Scrimshaw ivory tooth, "Lady Liberty" USD 500 - 800Scrimshaw whale's tooth with carved design of Lady Liberty holding a flag <strong>and</strong> shield, obverse with anchor with two Americanflags crossed in the background <strong>and</strong> a star at the top. 4 1/4" L <strong>and</strong> 2 1/4" W. American, probably early 19th century.Provenance: Estate of A. Welling LaGrone Jr., Nashville, Tenn.90: Large Continental hanging giltwood eagle w/ wreath USD 2,000 - 3,000A fully dimensional hanging carved <strong>and</strong> giltwood eagle, spread winged <strong>and</strong> clutching a wreath <strong>and</strong> spear in its talons. 23"H x34"W x 24"D. Probably French, early 19th century. With original brass mounting chain. Provenance: Estate of A. WellingLaGrone Jr., Nashville, Tenn., purchased from Queens Elm <strong>Antique</strong>s. Published in <strong>Art</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Antique</strong>s Magazine, Jan. 1999 articleon LaGrone home.91: Large carved wood sconce with eagle USD 300 - 400Large (45"H) carved wood sconce with ribbon carved top, eagle atop rocks, flowing into a acanthus leave decoration with 2metal c<strong>and</strong>elabra arms with beaded cups, the sconce terminates with two giltwood tassels Probably European, Late 18th/Early19th century. 45" H x 13" W x 8-1/2" DBid Live Online at Live<strong>Auction</strong>eers.com Page 15
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