Chinese flag

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Chinese flag acquired by Captain Charles Fellowes (1823-1886) during the capture of Canton, 29 December 1857. The City of Canton was attacked by a combined British and French force . On the 29 December, the French and British naval brigades stormed the city by scaling the walls. The French were the first to reach the top, but Fellowes is credited as being the first of the British to get over the city walls a minute or two later. The flag was presented to Greenwich Hospital by Queen Victoria in 1859.The flag is made of white satin-woven silk, with a cotton pole sleeve with ties, and is hand sewn. The design shows a winged tiger made of applied gold foil, the details painted in black. The animal has green eyes and is holding lightning flashes. The border is decorated with tongues of flame.Similar flags are shown flown by vessels of the Imperial fleet, see 'The Kangxi Emperor's southern inspection tour' Nanjing to Jinshan, 1698. Tiger flags also seem to have been carried on land by the escorts of important individuals.Original size: 1575 mm x 1727 mm Show more