How big is the ornament?

3 inches (76 mm) across, faceted crystal glass with a red ribbon hanger, in a white or gold gift box.

Made to order in the USA; each piece is printed or finished when the order comes in and shipped free in the U.S.

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Bear Flag · The Republic That Lasted 25 Days · Heritage Holiday Ornament

$28.00 USD

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Free U.S. Shipping

Size One size

Shape Circle + White Gift Packaging Circle + Gold Gift Packaging

More Bear Flag Items More Heritage Ornaments

Bear Flag. Rough cloth on a lashed staff: one red star, one walking grizzly, one red bar along the bottom. It was thrown together in June 1846 by settlers who woke up one morning and declared themselves a republic.

The revolt that gave the flag its name lasted less than a month, from June 14 to July 9, 1846, when American forces raised the Stars and Stripes and California's short-lived republic folded into the Mexican-American War. The flag itself was the work of William Todd, a nephew of Mary Todd Lincoln, who painted the bear on unbleached cotton with whatever he had; one story says berry juice. By most accounts the grizzly came out more hog than bear.

The design outlived the republic. When California adopted its state flag in 1911 it kept the star, the bar and the bear, and the grizzly is often said to be modeled on Monarch, a real California grizzly captured in 1889 and shown for years at a San Francisco park. The California grizzly bear was gone from the wild by the 1920s. It survives on the flag.

Our own engraving-style drawing, set in crystal so the weave of the cloth holds under the lights; the star and the stripe supply the red. Three inches across.

For Californians anywhere, flag collectors and vexillology fans, history readers, and everyone who likes a symbol with a better story than the government it flew over.

Faceted crystal, three inches across, with a white back so the line work reads clearly from anywhere in the room once the tree is lit. Red ribbon. Boxed in gold or white, your call at checkout. Ships free anywhere in the U.S.

QUICK FACTS — BEAR FLAG CRYSTAL ORNAMENT

Series: Heritage Holiday Ornament

Art: Bear Flag (The Republic That Lasted 25 Days), original Merlin Classics engraving printed to the glass

Blank: 3-inch (76 mm) round clear crystal glass ornament, faceted gem-cut edge

Print: white-backed for contrast; red ribbon hanger

Packaging: white or gold gift box, chosen at checkout

Made to order in the USA

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Product FAQs

How does your sizing work?

Every item is made to order, so please check the size chart on this page before you buy. Women's fitted tees run small; size up for a looser fit. Caps are one size with an adjustable strap.

How are items made and when will they arrive?

We make each item to order using premium blanks, embroidery and soft-hand prints. Production takes 2-5 business days (weekends and holidays excluded), then 4-10 days in transit via USPS, UPS or FedEx to U.S. addresses; most orders arrive within 6-15 business days. You'll get a tracking link the moment it ships. Any current shipping offer is shown in the bar at the top of every page and applies automatically at checkout, no code needed.

How do I send a gift?

Enter the recipient's address as the shipping address and your own as the billing address at checkout. Nothing ships with a price; the package includes a plain packing slip. Tracking goes to your email, not theirs. For birthdays and holidays, order two weeks ahead to be safe.

What's the return policy?

Made-to-order items can't be returned or exchanged for size or color, so please use the size chart and photos before ordering. If anything arrives defective, misprinted or damaged, send a photo and your order number within 30 days and we'll replace it or refund you.

How do I care for my item?

Apparel: wash cold, inside out, with like colors; no bleach; tumble dry low or hang dry. Embroidered pieces: iron inside out to protect the stitching. Caps: spot clean. Printed glasses and water bottles: hand wash only, no dishwasher, so the artwork lasts. Mugs and engraved glasses are dishwasher safe. Any item-specific care notes are in the description above.

Who makes this?

Merlin Classics is a small Connecticut brand making original retro designs for the towns people love. Every piece is printed, embroidered or engraved to order in the USA, and the business supports hunger relief in the communities our collections celebrate.