Ship Flag 1865

This anonymous work, “Ship Flag,” is a historical artifact from 1865. It is a large, three-band flag, made of cloth, with a red, tan, and dark blue color scheme. In gold lettering it states “SIMONOSEKI 4. 5 EN 6 SEPT 1864.” This ship flag is a reminder of the bombardment of Shimonoseki on September 4-6, 1864, which occurred as part of the Anglo-Dutch expedition to Japan in 1863-1864. This flag, located in the Rijksmuseum, is a unique example of a historical artefact in the form of artwork.