Stern badge apparently from the Greenwich Hospital barge. On a cartouche, the Greenwich Hospital crest of crossed Union flags with white staffs above a gold naval crown on a red ground), with two 'cherubs' which act as supporters and gilded and painted scrollwork below. The two putti, in light blue costume appear, in fact, to be in the early to mid-18th-century dress of boys of the Hospital School and are perhaps more properly described as such. The painting of this item does not appear to be original and while it can reasonably be assumed the colours follow the first scheme, it would require specialist examination to confirm this. While its general appearance suggests it is 18th-century, the painted St Patrick (red) saltire must have been added to the St Andrew saltire (which, with the St George cross, is in relief) after 1801. There is also a plan in the collection of the next and - if built - undoubtedly final Hospital barge, dated 1838 (ZAZ7166): that includes a plainer oval stern-badge, which also suggests this is from its predecessor. This badge was transferred to the Museum, with other items, from the former Royal Victualling Yard at Deptford in 1961. It is very likely the barge it came from was first stored and eventually broken up at Deptford (as others were) but unclear why the badge was not returned to Greenwich Hospital, since it is not part of the Hospital collection. [PvdM; updated 7/17]