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FlagsThe National Maritime Museum has over 1000 flags including two large collections of house flags, used to identify shipping lines, or owners of vessels. These vary from small family firms to major business conglomerates. Browse the entire collection or: View by:
About this collectionThe National Maritime Museum has over 1000 flags including two large collections of house flags, used to identify shipping lines, or owners of vessels. These vary from small family firms to major business conglomerates. Although chartered trading companies had distinctive ensigns at an earlier date, commercial house flags only became common during the early part of the 19th century. Many are shown in later ship portraits and prints. Available online are most of the Museum's own collection of house flags. We also hold the older Daniel Bolt Collection on loan from the Borough of Tower Hamlets. We owe the majority of our house flags to Mr C. M. Pope. He began his collection in 1917 and continued to add to it until his death in 1967 when his widow presented it to the Museum. Most of the Pope house flags date from the post-war period. Many of the firms they represent have since been taken over or gone out of business in the adverse economic climate of the 1970s and 1980s. Although of modern construction, some of these flags have a long and distinguished design history. The Museum has since been active in acquiring flags from some more recent companies. We are however constrained by conservation and space resources. Researchers are welcome to study items but an appointment must be made in advance. Please contact the E-library for further information. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8312 6516 Related websites |
