A Russian merchant ensign. This design was in use 1799-1917 and was revived in 1990. The ensign is made of wool bunting, with a linen hoist and is machine sewn. A rope is attached. Design: three horizontal stripes, white, blue red. Said to have been captured in the White Sea in 1854 by Captain Sir Erasmus Ommaney (1814-1904). Ommanney's activities in the White Sea included blockading Archangel, stopping the coasting trade and destroying government property. The machine sewn construction casts some doubt on the provenance