Flag
| Nom de l'objet : | Flag |
| Catégorie de l'objet : | Communication Artefacts |
| Sous-catégorie de l'objet : | Ceremonial Artefacts |
| Matériaux : | Fibre, Cotton |
| Numéro de catalogue : | WP.1983.011.01 |
| Numéro d'accession : | WP.1983.011.01 |
| Date de début de production : | 1801 |
| Description : | The White Ensign of the British Royal Navy, consisting of the red cross of Saint George, 8 cm in width, on a white field with the Union Flag in the canton (the canton is any quarter of a flag, but commonly means the upper hoist (left) quarter.) Interestingly this flag has been sewn onto a piece rough jute fabric; presumably to give the fragile flag added support. The jute, however, has been sewn onto the obverse (front) of the flag. This flag, therefore, can now only be seen from the reverse (back) side with the Union Flag seen backwards and in the wrong canton (i.e. the right side one.) This flag uses the running eye and toggle method of hoisting which is favoured in European countries. There is a hollow tube of heavy cloth called a sleeve on the heading or hoist side. Through this sleeve runs a hoist line. Attached to the top of the hoist line is a wooden toggle that fastens to an eye splice (also known as a Becket, this is a closed loop at the end of a rope formed by splicing the end of the rope back into itself to form an eye) at the upper end of the halyard (a rope used for raising and lowering the flag on a pole.) At the lower end of the hoist line there is also an eye splice which fastens to a toggle on the halyard. This flag has been made from seven (7) separate pieces of cloth (not counting the jute fabric.) Three white rectangles, two short red rectangles to form the vertical cross piece, one long red rectangle to form the horizontal cross piece, and one rectangle on to which is printed the Union Flag. White thread is used for the stitching throughout. The stitching on the flag appears to have been done by machine, whereas the stitching affixing the flag to the jute was done by hand. |
| Commentaires : | The British Royal Navy has used the White Ensign as its flag since the 16th century. This early flag had the cross of Saint George on a white field with a smaller Saint George's cross in the canton. By 1630, the larger cross was removed leaving a plain white field. In 1707, the larger cross was reinstated and the canton bore the Union Flag. This particular style of White Ensign dates from 1801 when the red cross of Saint Patrick was added to the Union Flag following the Act of Union in 1800. This White Ensign was used to start boat races in West Point PEI. It is unclear exactly when the jute backing (or fronting in this case) was added or whether it was known that the flag was backwards. |
| Hauteur : | 169 |
| Largeur : | 96 |
| Établissement : |
West Point Lighthouse
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|
| Ville de l'établissement : | O'Leary |
| Province de l'établissement : | Prince Edward Island |
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