A Small Soft Cotton British Antique Printed Union Jack Flag

Origin: British
Period: Early-Twentieth Century
Provenance: Unknown
Date: c.1910-20
Height: 14 inches
Width: 16 inches

The printed Union Jack flag in soft thin cotton is in worn but sound order with a very evocative and consistent gentle fade across the textile with the words ‘British Made’ printed to the fabric. There is some fraying to some edges providing real character.

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.

This flag is very soft to the touch, and is clearly a well-used and loved patriotic textile which could be used as a trustie hankie, a window display, a cushion cover or as intended, to be blow around by the erratic English wind.