An Early 20thC Antique Union Jack Flag on Pole c.1910

SOLD

Origin: British
Period: Early Twentieth Century
Provenance: Unknown
Date: c.1910
Length: 44.5 inches (Pole)
Flag: 31 x 22 inches


Used in celebration of George V’s coronation in 1910, the printed flag in soft thin cotton, is in worn but sound order with a very evocative and consistent gentle fade across the textile in a nicely proportioned size, hanging from the original pole terminating in a pointed and turned finial.

The textile is in good aged, as found, condition with a beautiful genuine fade across the fabric, the blues and reds having a fantastic translucent quality. The cotton does not suffer from any holes or tears and remains well attached to the pole. The pole finial is original and shows some of the original egg blue paint.

The current design of the flag dates from the union of Ireland and Great Britain in 1801. When the first flag was introduced in 1606, it became known simply as "the British flag" or "the flag of Britain". The word "jack" was in use before 1600 to describe the maritime bow flag. One theory goes that for some years it would have been called just "the Jack", or "Jack flag", or "the King's Jack", but by 1674, while formally referred to as "His Majesty's Jack", it was commonly called the Union Jack, and this was officially acknowledged.

George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was the first British monarch belonging to the House of Windsor. The coronation took place at Westminster Abbey on 22 June 1911 and was celebrated by the Festival of Empire in London. As well as being King of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth Realms, George was the Emperor of India and the first King of the Irish Free State. George reigned from 6 May 1910 through World War I (1914–1918) until his death.

A flag that is very much in demand at this present time, over a century on from when it was hand made during Edwardian splendour.

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