General Auction of Many House-Clearance Items inc. Many Vintage Nautical Items, Blonde Ercol, Doulton, Jual Curve, White Goods, Victorian Furniture, Instruments and more.
Lot 78: A Vintage British Red Ensign Maritime Flag on a Wooden Staff
Not sold
A vintage British Red Ensign, frequently referred to as the Red Duster, mounted on its original wooden staff. The flag is of multi-piece construction, featuring a coarse-weave wool or cotton bunting red field with a sewn-in Union Flag in the canton. The construction utilizes visible white stitching to secure the canton to the main body and the hoist to the staff. The flag is attached to a polished wooden staff which terminates in a rounded wooden finial. The mounting includes a length of braided rope secured via a metal clip and hardware assembly. The metal hardware, comprising a clip and ring, is present but does not bear any legible manufacturer stamps or marks. The flag shows extensive evidence of service use, with heavy fraying and loss of material typical of maritime exposure.
Large-scale maritime item; exact dimensions are not provided.
Condition report:
The flag is in a distressed, service-worn condition. There is extensive fraying and significant loss of fabric along the fly edge, resulting in large, irregular tears (photo 2). Multiple small holes, consistent with moth damage or wear, are visible throughout the red field and the Union canton (photo 1). Several dark stains and areas of discoloration, likely from exposure to soot, oil, or moisture, are present across the fabric (photo 1). The metal mounting clip shows surface oxidation and rust (photo 1). The wooden staff is structurally sound with minor surface scuffing.
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