Banner with Red Cross Patonce

Fringed Linen Medieval Banner with Red Cross Patonce

Historical Context and Heraldry

The cross with splayed and decorated arms, often referred to as a cross patonce or cross moline, was a popular heraldic charge in the High and Late Middle Ages. It appeared in the coats of arms of many noble families as a symbol of knightly virtues, steadfast faith, and purity. The green field with yellow (gold) horizontal bars (stripes) and a yellow chief creates a complex and highly colourful heraldic motif that guaranteed excellent recognition of a military unit on the battlefield. The addition of ornamental fringes around the perimeter of the banner was particularly characteristic of ceremonial and tournament flags, which were intended to represent the wealth and nobility of their owner.

Mounting Method and Recommended Accessories

The top edge of the standard is equipped with a practical, continuous sleeve (tunnel) designed for secure and firm threading onto a horizontal spar or pole. To ensure that the banner is custom-made for you with absolute precision, and the sleeve is neither too tight nor unnecessarily loose on your pole, please do not forget to specify the exact diameter of the pole in your order notes. As optimal an accessory for this flag, we highly recommend acquiring a smoothly sanded and dark-stained wooden pole, which will perfectly underscore its historical appearance.

Linen Care and Fringe Maintenance Instructions

The banner is sewn from high-quality natural linen and finished with delicate fringes, therefore it requires gentle care. We recommend washing the flag exclusively by hand in lukewarm water at a maximum temperature of 30 °C (86 °F). Completely avoid the use of bleaches and aggressive chemical agents, which would irreversibly ruin the colours and could damage the fringes. Never dry the banner in a tumble dryer – the linen would crease and shrink significantly, and the fringes could become hopelessly tangled. It is ideal to dry the flag laid flat on an even surface. You can iron the linen surface at a higher temperature, ideally from the reverse side or through a clean, damp cloth, but it is best to avoid ironing the fringes entirely.

Technical Specifications of the Banner