Extant Banners & Flags from the Middle Ages and Renaissance

A collection of notes on articles which discuss extant heraldic banners, as well as links to webpages with graphics of such. Not so much about banners as depicted in period artwork; other webpages, like these links on heraldic banners and flags, do a good survey of that sort of thing.

See The Sable Rose - Banners and Flags for information on late 15th century European banners, and how they were made. Cennini's Libro dell'Arte -- especially this section -- is useful for understanding craftsmen's techniques and materials.

• Armory as Self-Representation includes a photo of the 14th century banner with the arms of the dukes of Savoy with the family arms of de Blonays, in a combination of appliqué and embroidery (another photo here).
• Banner for the city of Ghent, painted by Agnes van den Bossche ca. 1482 (also here)
• Banner with three crowns, mid-15th century
• Banner with double-headed eagle, ca. 1500
• The Dacre animals (early 16th century banner supporters, now holding 19th century banners) are accessible through the V&A Access to Images
• Banner with a Quartered Royal Arms of Spain and the Madonna and Child, 16th century
• Ceremonial standard, associated with the Douglas of Cavers Family, probably from the late 16th century
• The Sable Rose Grimoire: Banners and Flags discribes extant banners in general, including materials and construction.

Some European ecclesiastical flags: processional banner, Banner of Julius II, banner from Kerk Sint-Jacob, Byzantine banners at the Halberstadt Dommuseum (87 781, 87 783, 1.083 448), Italian or Spanish processional banner, apostles and evangelists (c. 1541-1550), apostles and evangelists (c. 1541-1550), Greek processional banner

A few 16th century flags in various media relating to St. Sebastian (St. Sebastian's guild): c. 1501-1700, c. 1501-1600, c. 1501-1700, 1527, 1564
Procession banner: The Virgin and Child with St. Lazarus, c. 1502 (also here)

Photos of the Fetternear Banner, embroidered around 1520 and the only known Scottish church banner from that period, can be found using the search engine at National Museums Scotland.