Antique Hand Painted Oddfellows / Masonic Silk Banner By G. Tutill

A sought after 19th century Independent Order of Oddfellows Manchester Unity silk banner. 

Measuring approximately 10ft x 9ft this beautiful procession banner is an impressive piece of fraternity history. 

Produced by the famous G. Tutill who developed and patented a technique known as Indiarubber silk. He also had a loom specially designed to make the silk panels in one large piece. This was installed at his studio at 83 City Road, London. 

This process ensured the durability of the fine detailed hand painted sections. 

Banners made by G. Tutill are regarded as the finest made during the 19th century and his company was known all over the word and employed to produce banners for every type of fraternity, Union etc. 

This particular example like most is double sided with two differing large hand painted centre panels. 

Each panel depicts the Oddfellows symbology and belief system. 

The embellished details of scrollwork and trailing floral patterns make this particular banner one of the higher quality examples produced by the aforementioned Tutill and his company. 

The banner still hangs on its original gilt metal pole. 

The banner dates to the late 1870s. 

Each side has hand painted scrolls that read Manchester Unity and show it was produced for Loyal Westwood Lodge, Leek. 

To one side is the Oddfellows motto ‘We Help One Another’. 

One of the original brass name discs is still attached to the banner. These generally have been lost over the years. 

The banner has survived well considering its age and the fragile nature of silk. There is a small section of loss to the top painted section as illustrated. 

Also it’s very common for an area of the silk to detached from the painted section, this can be seen below the painted central panel. 

The silk has degraded over time and there is obvious damage to the bottom of the banner. 

However given these rarely turn up and the banner is made of fragile material, overall this is a fantastic example of banners from the 1800s. 

We would suggest it would be best for the banner to be collected in person, this would require a van as the banner is particularly long. 

We have included a courier cost for UK mainland, it would be professionally packed to ensure safe transportation. 

Buyers from remote areas of Wales and Scotland please make contact prior to purchase for a specific delivery quote. 

We can arrange for it to be carefully packed if you would like to send a courier, this would be by appointment only from our South Yorkshire showroom.