2000 Texas Capitol Ornament

2000 Capitol Ornament: Reverse of the Texas State Seal

This is the 2000 Texas Capitol Ornament, the fifth edition in a series spanning more than 30 years of Texas history and it is the first of the twenty-first century. It features the Reverse Seal of Texas found in the Terrazzo floors of the Texas Capitol capped with a shining, golden Lone Sar. It is a beautiful tribute to the Texas Capitol, and Texas state history. Get yours while supplies are still available

Some official seals, such as those of the United States and the State of Texas, have both a front and a back. The front side of the seal is known as the obverse and is used to authenticate documents of high importance or ceremony. The backside of the seal, known as the reverse, is primarily used for decorative purposes. The State of Texas adopted an official seal in 1836. , but it would be 125 years before a design would be created for the backside of the seal. The Daughters of the Republic of Texas proposed a design for the reverse of the state seal that was adopted by the Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Called Session and approved by Governor Price Daniel on August 26, 1961. Sarah R. Farnsworth, who served as the President General of the DRT from 1931 to 1935, designed the art for the seal's reverse. In an unusual practice, the legislature adopted the art itself instead of the more customary approach of approving a description, or blazon, which is then rendered by an artist. The resolution contained a description of the art that disagreed in some respects with the art itself. Therefore, modifications were made to correct minor inaccuracies in the work and to adopt a description of the design, rather than specific art. Governor Ann Richards approved this corrective resolution on June 14, 1991.

The reverse of the state seal features the six national flags that flew over Texas: the historic Kingdom of Spain, the Kingdom of France, the United Mexican States, the Confederate States of America, and the United States of America. Even though the nations often flew various flags, the ones represented in the seal are the appropriate flag design of the six nations at the time each claimed Texas soil. At the center of the seal are the live oak and olive branches of the state arms around a shield featuring symbols of the Texas Revolution. The first and final battles of the Texas Revolution are depicted on the lower half of the shield. On the left stands the famous Gonzales "Come and Take It" cannon. On the right is "Vince's Bridge" which Deaf Smith destroyed during the Battle of San Jacinto, an action credited as strategic to victory for the Texans. Above the shield is emblazoned the battle cry, "REMEMBER THE ALAMO", and beneath it are the words, "TEXAS ONE AND INDIVISIBLE". Atop, centered between the flags, proudly rests the Lone Star of Texas.

The reverse of the seal is handsomely reproduced in the terrazzo in the Seal Court of the Texas Capitol Extension, which opened in January 1993, and is proudly represented in the Legislative Medal of Honor. The original watercolor painting of the design, by Joy Harrell Carrington of Medina, hangs in the office of the Texas Secretary of State. Even though the reverse seal is not often seen, it's icons share a historic significance to the Lone Star State.

Supplies of this ornament are extremely limited. Once they are sold out, they will be unavailable forever more. We are are releasing the final stock of these original ornaments from our archive in response to consumer requests. Sales from this exclusive ornament support the ongoing preservation and interpretation of the Texas Capitol as well as exhibitions and educational programming at the Bullock Texas State History Museum. Collect this commemorative piece of Texas history and help the statehouse maintain its beauty for generations to come.