Doe and Hope

Description

Hand stitched in heavy cloth, this superior appliqué Union Jack is a very well made piece of patriotism, surviving from the middle of the twentieth century.

There is a smattering of old holes across the flag, giving it an aged look, though the colours are still very vivid. There are also flagpole fittings present, with corded rope running through to a toggle at one end.

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.

With vintage union jacks being so sought after to decorate the home or the shop front, or even to celebrate the Olympics, this flag is likely to find a new home rather imminently.