British Commemorative Coronation Flag, circa 1900-1920

$1,850List Price

About the Item

Beautifully presented antique British flag, designed to commemorate the reign of Edward VII. Features traditional English symbology, crests and flags of the region and time period, surrounding a raised gilded crown rendering to honor the King's coronation. Edward VII reigned from 1841 to 1910. The eldest son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe Goburg and Gotha, Edward was related to royalty throughout Europe. Before his ascension to the throne, he served as heir apparent and held the title of Prince of Wales for longer than any of his predecessors. The Edwardian Era, which spanned Edward's reign, coincided with the start of a new Century and heralded significant changes in technology and society, including steam turbine propulsion and the rise of Socialism. Edward VII died in 1910 after suffering a series of heart attacks. His death came in the midst of a constitutional crisis over the future of England's budget. Edward is recognized as the first truly constitutional British sovereign and the last sovereign to wield effective political power. Though given the nickname "Peacemaker", he had a strained relationship with his nephew, the German Emperor Wilhelm II. Four years after his death the first World War began. Prominently displayed on this flag are the heraldic crests of the United Kingdom, including the Royal Banner of Scotland, flown in representation of the Kingdom of Scotland since 1222 A.D. It features the Lion Rampant of Scotland, used officially as the emblem of the King of Scots. A fierce fighting lion in crimson red, on a royal gold background make this one of the most recognizable symbols of Scotland. Also displayed is the Blue Harp crest, representing Ireland as part of the United Kingdom since 1603. This version is also found in the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom. The unique blue hue is known as Saint Patrick's blue, and is the shade of blue used in the regalia of the Order of Saint Patrick. This was the official emblem of Ireland until a change from blue to green was brought about in the eighteenth century by the United Irishmen, an Irish nationalist movement associated with both Catholic and Protestant Irish. Green became most prominent during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries as it symbolized rebellion. The third crest is the Red Dragon of Wales, or Y Ddraig Goch. Although only officially recognized in 1959, the Red Dragon has been associated with Wales for centuries. The origin of the adoption of the symbol of the dragon is lost to time and myth. Several theories have been suggested including the idea that the Romans introduced the symbol during their occupation of Britain. The oldest known use of the dragon to represent Wales is from the Historia Brittonum. Written around 830 A.D., the text depicts a struggle between two serpents deep underground which prevents the king from building a stronghold. It is later adapted into a prophecy from the wizard Myrddin (Merlin) regarding a long fight between a red dragon and a white dragon. This is believed to represent the conflict in the 5th and 6th centuries between the Britons and the invading Saxons. The crests representing the United Kingdom encircle a red and white English Rose at the center of the design. The English Rose, also known as the Tudor Rose, is the traditional floral heraldic emblem of England and takes its name and origins from the the Tudor Dynasty. The rose was adopted by Henry VII in the late thirteenth century soon after he took the crown and ended the long conflict between two houses we know today as the "War of the Roses". The red rose representing the House of Lancaster was combined with the white rose of the House of York to symbolize unification. Six flags representing the English territories of the period extend victoriously outwards. Prominently displayed at the front are the Union Jack and the flag of South Africa, at the time being under British rule. The South African flag displayed on the front left was the official flag from 1928 to 1994. It was a controversial design brought about by a great compromise. After a bill was introduced to give the country a new flag, British officials feared the post-union Afrikaner government would remove the imperial symbols. After much debate this flag was chosen, based off of the Dutch designed Prinsevlag (Prince's Flag), it includes in the center of a Dutch style color scheme, the emblems of the colonies of Natal and Cape Colony, with the Union Jack to the left and the flags of the Boer republics of the Orange Free State on the right. The flag left and center of the centerpiece is the Canadian Red Ensign, a former flag of Canada used by the federal government but never officially adopted by the Parliament of Canada. This version features the triple maple leaf insignia in green along with emblems of the kingdoms of Great Britain and France. This specific version was used between the years of 1921-1957. Several other versions of this flag were flown until the official adoption of the Maple Leaf flag in 1965. Also included to the right of the centerpiece are the Red Ensigns of Australia and New Zealand, both featuring the Southern Cross constellation and Union Jack, although visibility of the design is greatly obscured by the position of the flags. The Red Ensign, designed in 1901 was used exclusively until the official adoption of the Blue Ensign in the mid 20th century. Come confusion existed as to which version was proper for private citizens to fly. Once the Blue Ensign was officially recognized, the Red Ensign was generally used only for maritime use. On the upper left of the centerpiece is White Ensign of the British Royal Navy, also known as the St. George's Ensign due to its use of the red St. George's Cross emblem. This maritime flag has been in use in various forms since the sixteenth century. The thirteen red and white stripes of this flag were the inspiration for the future flag of the United States of America in 1776 and remain an integral part of the design today, representing the original thirteen colonies. Deep vibrant colors and bold composition characterize this elegantly framed piece of English history. Rich in symbolism, it is a piece originally used to celebrate the rise of a new monarch. It is still here with us today to commemorate the beauty and depth of British culture. Unframed Size: 23"x 38.5" Framed Size: 32"x 44"

Dimensions:
Height: 32 in (81.28 cm)Width: 44 in (111.76 cm)Depth: 2.5 in (6.35 cm)
Period:
Early 20th Century
Date of Manufacture:
1900-1920
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Colorado Springs, CO
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU90973150862

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