A Large British Vintage Applique & Printed Union Jack Flag
SOLD
Origin: British
Period: Early-Twentieth Century
Provenance: Unknown
Date: c.1910-30
Height: 40 inches
Width: 53 inches
The printed and part appliqué Union Jack flag in soft thin cotton is in worn but sound order with a lovely consistent gentle fade across the fabric particularly to the blue stitched appliqué, the red and white both being printed. There are a handful of small holes.
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 near antique flag has bags of character and the central cross is wider than other flags of this type.