The design on this 17th century punch bowl shows an officer carrying the Colour. The date is unknown but it probably dates from the reign of King William III (1689 -1702). The soldiers may be Dutch or British; both armies wore similar uniforms. The bowl was made at the Brislington Delft factory in the West of England, and photos showing all sides were published in the Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research no.26 (October 1927).
King William made changes to the regulations regarding Colours so that each regiment was ordered to carry only three Colours, for those companies commanded by the three field officers. The illustration on the bowl shows only one officer carrying a Colour, marching behind musketeers, but in front of a company of pikemen. Some idea of the size of the Colour can be imagined; at that stage the flags measured 6ft 9ins flying by 6ft 6ins on the pike.
