Dutch Navy Ship's Flag with Embroidery (1865)

Dutch navy ship's flag (the Medusa) commemorating its role in the Battle for the Straits of Shimonoseki, Japan (1863-1864). Dutch navy ship's flag (the Medusa) commemorating its role in the Battle for the Straits of Shimonoseki, Japan (1863-1864). Courtesy Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, acc. no. NG-MC-1889-85-2.

The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam houses the ship's flag of the Dutch navy steamer 'Medusa', presented to the ship's crew by King Willem III in 1865 in recognition for their role in forcing the Straits of Shimonoseki during the international punitive expedition against the Prince of Nagato (Japan).

The flag is in a bad condition. It measures 300 x 400 cm. It shows the Dutch flag (red/white/blue) and, embroidered in silver thread, the word 'Simonoseki'. Z.M. Stoomschip Medusa forceert de doorgang door de Straat van Shimonoseki, by jonkheer Jacob Eduard van Heemskerck van Beest, 1864 (Rijksmuseum Amsterdam).At the back the embroidery reads: "11 Julij 1863 / 4, 5, 6 september 1864" (these are the dates of the military actions of the ship). The red and blue segments of the flag are in silk; the white, with the embroidery, is made of cotton.

For more information about the ship and for illustrations, click here.

Rijksmuseum Amsterdam online catalogue (retrieved 14 September 2016).

WV

Illustration: "Z.M. Stoomschip Medusa forceert de doorgang door de Straat van Shimonoseki", by Jacob Eduard van Heemskerck van Beest, 1864 (Rijksmuseum Amsterdam). 

 

Last modified on Saturday, 20 May 2017 16:00
Published in Accessories
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