H.M.A.S. PERTH NAVAL ENSIGN PENNANT - AUSTRALIAN NAVAL MEMORABILIA CIRCA 1940S-1950S

A SIGNIFICANT PIECE OF AUSTRALIAN NAVAL HERITAGE: AN ORIGINAL WOOL FELT PENNANT BEARING THE OFFICIAL COLOURS AND INSIGNIA OF H.M.A.S. PERTH, A DISTINGUISHED VESSEL OF THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY.

DESCRIPTION AND INSIGNIA:
THE PENNANT IS CONSTRUCTED FROM NAVY WOOL FELT IN THE TRADITIONAL ELONGATED TRIANGULAR FORM CHARACTERISTIC OF NAVAL ENSIGNS. THE FACE DISPLAYS THE OFFICIAL COAT OF ARMS FEATURING A HERALDIC SHIELD WITH A RED CROSS ON WHITE GROUND, FLANKED BY TWO GOLD PRINTED SWANS IN PROFILE, SURMOUNTED BY A ROYAL CROWN. BELOW THE SHIELD RUNS A BANNER INSCRIBED WITH THE LATIN MOTTO 'FLOREAT' (MAY IT FLOURISH). THE SHIP'S NAME 'H.M.A.S. PERTH' IS IN GOLD CAPITAL LETTERS TO THE RIGHT OF THE HERALDIC DEVICE.

CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS:
- PRIMARY MATERIAL: NAVY WOOL FELT
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- BACKING: COTTON FABRIC STRIPS SEWN TO THE HOIST EDGE FOR REINFORCEMENT AND HANGING
- DIMENSIONS: APPROXIMATELY 60 CM IN LENGTH, 19 CM IN WIDTH AT THE WIDEST POINT

HISTORICAL CONTEXT:
H.M.A.S. PERTH WAS A TOWN-CLASS LIGHT CRUISER THAT SERVED WITH DISTINCTION IN THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY. THE VESSEL SAW ACTIVE SERVICE DURING WORLD WAR II AND THE POST-WAR PERIOD, MAKING THIS PENNANT A TANGIBLE CONNECTION TO AUSTRALIAN NAVAL HISTORY AND THE SERVICE PERSONNEL WHO SERVED ABOARD.

CONDITION: FAIR CONDITION CONSISTENT WITH AGE AND HISTORICAL USE. THE FELT SURFACE DISPLAYS GENERAL SOILING AND LIGHT SURFACE WEAR. GOLD PRINT SHOWS MINOR FADING IN PLACES. THE BACKING STRIPS REMAIN SECURELY ATTACHED. NO SIGNIFICANT TEARS, LOSSES, OR RESTORATION EVIDENT. THE PIECE RETAINS ITS ORIGINAL CHARACTER AND PATINA.

PROVENANCE: PRIVATE AUSTRALIAN COLLECTION. NO DOCUMENTATION ACCOMPANIES THE LOT, THOUGH THE CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS ARE CONSISTENT WITH OFFICIAL ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY ISSUE FROM THE 1940S-1950S PERIOD.

NAVAL PENNANTS OF THIS ERA ARE INCREASINGLY SOUGHT BY MILITARY HISTORIANS, NAVAL ENTHUSIASTS, AND COLLECTORS OF AUSTRALIAN MARITIME MEMORABILIA. ORIGINAL EXAMPLES IN SERVICEABLE CONDITION ARE BECOMING SCARCER AS INSTITUTIONAL COLLECTIONS ARE DISPERSED AND PRIVATE HOLDINGS PASS TO NEW CUSTODIANS.

Item Size: Height: 19cm, Width: 60cm, Depth: 0.01cm, Weight: 0.03Kg

Condition: Fair - Refer To Images

TOORMINA
548799+17

Location of item: 9 Hi-Tech Drive, Toormina, NSW, Australia

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