Frame Size (H x L): 22.75” x 31.25”
Flag Size (H x L): 15” x 23”

Offered is a vintage Iowa state flag, commercially made of cotton and dating to approximately 1940–1960. The flag presents Iowa’s familiar vertical tricolor of blue, white, and red, with the state’s eagle-and-ribbon device printed prominently upon the broad white center panel and the name “IOWA” printed below in red.

The body is assembled from three separate panels of plain-weave cotton, joined vertically by machine stitching. The white center panel is noticeably wider than the colored outer sections, providing ample space for the central device. The blue and red panels have mellowed considerably with age, particularly the blue, which has faded unevenly along areas exposed to light and use. Both colors remain easily legible, however, and the softer palette gives the flag an appealing, unmistakably vintage appearance.

The central imagery is printed directly onto the cotton. A red eagle appears with wings extended, carrying a flowing blue ribbon in its beak. The ribbon bears Iowa’s state motto: “Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain.” The individual words are distributed across the folds of the streamer in hand-rendered white lettering. Beneath the device, “IOWA” appears in large red slab-serif capitals.

The printing retains the slightly irregular quality associated with traditional textile production. Ink follows the weave of the cotton, with subtle variations in density and softly defined edges. The eagle is rendered in a subdued brick-red or reddish-brown, while the ribbon is printed in a rich blue. The imagery is bold enough to be recognized from a distance, yet retains considerable detail in the eagle’s feathers, talons, beak, and the many folds of the ribbon.

The flag is finished along the hoist with a substantial folded cotton heading. Two large brass grommets, one at each end, allowed the flag to be secured to a staff or halyard. The grommets are set through multiple layers of fabric and show an appropriately aged surface. Short, closely spaced machine stitches reinforce the heading near the grommets and at the points where the perimeter hems meet the hoist. These concentrated areas of stitching helped distribute the strain created when the flag was flown.

Construction throughout is by straight machine stitching. The panels are joined with neatly executed vertical seams, while the top and bottom edges are secured with narrow folded hems and parallel rows of stitching. Additional back-tacking or reinforcement appears at panel junctions and at the ends of sewing runs. The fly end is similarly folded and machine sewn. Although efficiently made, the flag reflects a period when even commercially produced state flags were commonly constructed from woven cotton rather than the synthetic fabrics that became increasingly prevalent later in the 20th century.

Iowa’s state flag was designed by Dixie Cornell Gebhardt of Knoxville, Iowa, a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Gebhardt initially developed the design during the First World War, when Iowa guardsmen serving along the Mexican border needed a state banner. The Iowa General Assembly formally adopted her design as the official state flag on March 29, 1921.

The arrangement was patterned after the vertical blue, white, and red tricolor of France, acknowledging the period during which the territory that became Iowa was under French control. In the symbolism described for the flag, blue represents loyalty, white purity, and red courage. The American eagle and the ribbon bearing the state motto place Iowa firmly within the United States while emphasizing the preservation of liberty and legal rights.

The present example was produced several decades after the design’s official adoption. Its woven cotton construction, separately sewn panels, heavy cotton hoist, brass grommets, direct textile printing, and straightforward lockstitch assembly are consistent with commercially manufactured flags of the middle decades of the 20th century. The materials and methods do not support an especially early date, but they are characteristic of a durable institutional or outdoor flag made before lightweight synthetic state flags became dominant.

Conservation Process: This flag was hand sewn to cotton fabric, and both were hand sewn to a mounting board.  To prevent the black dye in the cotton fabric from seeping into the flag, it was first washed in a standard wash and then in a dye setting wash.  The flag is positioned behind Optium Museum Acrylic.

Frame: The flag is presented in a substantial black-painted wood frame with a stepped, deeply molded profile and subtle gray inner lip.

Condition Report: The flag is in good vintage condition, with overall fading and mellowing of the blue, red, and natural cotton consistent with age and prior display. There is scattered soiling, minor staining, and localized wear, most notably along the lower portion of the red fly end, with light fraying and small edge losses. The printed eagle, motto, and “IOWA” remain strong and readily legible, while the hoist and both brass grommets remain intact.

Collectability Level: The Good – Perfect for Beginners and Gifts  
Date of Origin: 1940-1960