A Massive Appliqué Vintage Union Jack Flag

Origin: British
Period: Late Twentieth Century
Provenance: Unknown
Date: c.1970-80
Length: 141 inches
Height: 72 inches (approx)

Double hand stitched in heavy wool bunting and cotton cloth, this huge Union Jack stretches to almost twelve feet.

The flag has a hooped hem with corded rope and wooden supports running through it and a toggle to one end. There is one L-shaped tear present measuring around 5x5 inches but the remainder of the whole remains in superb condition with the colours remaining vivid and the fabric supple. The size of the flag suggests it must have been made for and flown from a very large ship or building.

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.

Chances to own a Union flag of this quality and size are few and far between, and such is the clamour for them at this moment in time this represents a scarce opportunity to acquire one.