Last modified: 2025-03-22 by martin karner
Keywords: switzerland | zürich | zurich | german |
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T.F. Mills, 17 October 1997
– Main banner of Zürich (1437, reverse), carried in the Old Zürich War (1440–46;) (source: [b7b42]).
– Shooter flag, carried during the Dijon campaign, 1513 (source: [m2m93]). Reverse side (source: [b7b42]) (cf. Shooting Club Flag).
– Stained glass plate (detail), 1557, dedicated from the city of Zürich to the monastery of Muri (today's location). Zürich flag with Schwenkel. The two
lions are the heraldic animals of Zürich (source).
– Stained glass plate from Lukas Zeiner, ca. 1490, with two Zürich flags, one showing the three Christian martyrs and patron
saints of Zürich, Felix, Regula and Exuperantius (Those martyrs are also on the Zürich city and state seals, source) (source).
– Banner bearer, Zürich banner with Schwenkel, part of
a painting series from Humbert Mareschet with paintings of the banner bearers of all 13 cantons of that
time (1585, picture) (source).
– Cavalry standard (2nd half 18th c.). Inscription: "S.PQ.T." (Senatus PopulusQue Turicensis, The Senate and
the People of Zürich) (source: [m2m93]).
See also: • SCHWENKEL in Dictionary of Vexillology
•
Der Schwenkel (by Günter Mattern, ICV 15, 1993, German)
Rectangular cantonal flag, as shown in Kannik (1956)
[So-called Farbenfahne (colour flag); in the case of ZH divided diagonally instead of horizontally].
Ole Andersen, 4 August 2002
See also: STATE COLOURS in Dictionary of Vexillology
Flaggen, Knatterfahnen and Livery Colours |
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Flaggen are vertically hoisted from a crossbar in the manner of gonfanon, in ratio of about 2:9, with a swallowtail that indents about 2 units. The chief, or hoist (square part) usually incorporates the design from the coat of arms – not from the flag. The fly part is always divided lengthwise, usually in a bicolour, triband or tricolour pattern (except Schwyz which is monocolour, and Glarus which has four stripes of unequal width). The colours chosen for the fly end are usually the main colours of the coat of arms, but the choice is not always straight forward.
Knatterfahnen are similar to Flaggen, but hoisted from the long side and have no swallow tail. They normally show the national, cantonal or communal flag in their chiefs.
Željko Heimer, 16 July 2000
See also: HANGING FLAG, VERTICALLY HOISTED FLAG, LIVERY COLOURS in Dictionary of Vexillology
At the beginning of the 20th century, flamed flags were still in use, with the white cross replaced by
a (baroque) shield in the centre of the flag. These decorative flags had been used until WWII and then
somewhat forgotten in preference of the current cantonal flags. [Today they are being
produced again, see right image]
Pascal Gross, 30 June 2002
See also: • National flag and other cantonal flags with "Early 20th century flag design"
• Modern flamed flags
• FLAMMES in Dictionary of Vexillology
Cockade for the cantonal troops' headgear (regulation from 1869, size: ca. 40 mm, reverse side).
Martin Karner, 14 March 2025
See also: Cockades (Swiss Army)