Copyright/attribution: ©Bristol Museums, Galleries and Archives
Copyright/attribution: ©Bristol Museums, Galleries and Archives
banner
Double side trade union banner for the Gasworks and General Labourers, Bristol Branch.
The banner is apparently made from two seperate banners sewn together. Both sides have oil-paint decoration on a silk background. The edging is of red, white and blue cord, with a bottom fringe of blue and red and a looping cord in yellow.
The face side has a large central panel of a working scene inside a gas works. In the four corners are smaller scenes depicting, at the top right, a street with workmen laying pipes; at bottom right, the interior of a gas works; at top left, a Bristol street with a large gasometer dominating the background; and a man loading a furnace with coal at bottom left. Above the central panel is a painted traditional symbol, the clasped hands of friendship and unity. Surrounding the central panel is the inscription, 'UNION/ OF GASWORKERS AND GENERAL/ LABOURERS/ BRISTOL DISRICT NO. 1 BRANCH'. The background is of red silk decorated with painted late- Victorian foliage and scrollwork.
The back has a blue silk background with central painted panel showing two men carrying tools and shaking hands. 'Workers Unite' is in the centre of the panel, and a painted ribbon above reads 'The cause of Labour is the hope of the world'. The latter half of the motto is placed over a globe.