Amalgamated Union of Building Trade Workers of Great Britain and Ireland banner 1 - Test Piece.
TitleAmalgamated Union of Building Trade Workers of Great Britain and Ireland banner 1 - Test Piece.
ReferenceBANNER/096
Date
n.d.
Scope and ContentImage taken from Amalgamated Union of Building Trade Workers of Great Britain and Ireland centenary souvenir booklet 'The building workers' struggle' page 2, representing building workers in 1800 (also see Banner/097)
Illustration
There are three figures in the illustration. Taking up much of the left side of the banner is a man, apparently a worker. He is wearing a white shirt, sleeves rolled up; a blue waistcoat; orange neckerchief; green trousers; a purple hat and black boots. His clothes and general appearance are worn and scruffy. He is holding a spade in his right hand, appears to be doffing his hat to his employer and has a downcast expression.
The right half of the banner is dominated by a taller man in more refined clothes. He is wearing a long black overcoat, blue trousers, red waistcoat, a bow-tie and a bowler hat. He has a stern expression on his face and is holding a cane with which he appears to be tapping the other man on the back of the leg.
The third figure is to the far right, partially obscuring the employer. He is facing towards the employer and has his head lowered so we cannot see his face. He is far shorter than the others, therefore a child or young adult. He is wearing a white shirt with red stripes and blue trousers torn off at the knee. He is wearing no shoes and is holding a brown bag, which he appears to be showing or offering to the employer.
Colour is used quite liberally on this banner, both in the appearance of the figures described above and in the background. Shades of brown and orange are used, presumably for the earth that the worker is digging. The other background details are not clear but the shapes using shades of red and black appear to depict buildings in the distance, giving the surroundings an industrial context.
Text
The text is over four lines, beginning from the top left. It reads:
"At the beginning of the last Century
Building Workers were
Completely in the hands of
The Employers."
This text in painted in black in a freehand, unstructured style.
The date "1800" is painted bottom centre on the banner, giving the illustration and the situation an historical context. It is emphasised by its size, being approximately 6in in height.
Illustration
There are three figures in the illustration. Taking up much of the left side of the banner is a man, apparently a worker. He is wearing a white shirt, sleeves rolled up; a blue waistcoat; orange neckerchief; green trousers; a purple hat and black boots. His clothes and general appearance are worn and scruffy. He is holding a spade in his right hand, appears to be doffing his hat to his employer and has a downcast expression.
The right half of the banner is dominated by a taller man in more refined clothes. He is wearing a long black overcoat, blue trousers, red waistcoat, a bow-tie and a bowler hat. He has a stern expression on his face and is holding a cane with which he appears to be tapping the other man on the back of the leg.
The third figure is to the far right, partially obscuring the employer. He is facing towards the employer and has his head lowered so we cannot see his face. He is far shorter than the others, therefore a child or young adult. He is wearing a white shirt with red stripes and blue trousers torn off at the knee. He is wearing no shoes and is holding a brown bag, which he appears to be showing or offering to the employer.
Colour is used quite liberally on this banner, both in the appearance of the figures described above and in the background. Shades of brown and orange are used, presumably for the earth that the worker is digging. The other background details are not clear but the shapes using shades of red and black appear to depict buildings in the distance, giving the surroundings an industrial context.
Text
The text is over four lines, beginning from the top left. It reads:
"At the beginning of the last Century
Building Workers were
Completely in the hands of
The Employers."
This text in painted in black in a freehand, unstructured style.
The date "1800" is painted bottom centre on the banner, giving the illustration and the situation an historical context. It is emphasised by its size, being approximately 6in in height.
Extent1 Single Sided Banner
Physical descriptionDimensions (H x W): 186cm x 135cm. Painted Cotton.
Materials
The material is a thin sheet of cotton cloth. All illustration and text are painted, quite thick in places, particularly on the characters' faces, emphasising their expressions.
Hanging Mechanism
There is no hanging mechanism but there is evidence that drawing pins have been used and that is has once been mounted in a frame.
Materials
The material is a thin sheet of cotton cloth. All illustration and text are painted, quite thick in places, particularly on the characters' faces, emphasising their expressions.
Hanging Mechanism
There is no hanging mechanism but there is evidence that drawing pins have been used and that is has once been mounted in a frame.
LanguageEnglish
Related object
Persons keywordAmalgamated Union of Building Trade Workers
SubjectTrade unions, Building trade workers
Conditions governing accessOpen
Levelfile
Normal locationBanners Box 6 (Attic)