Decorated Whale's Tooth, c.1808-1814
This jolly sailor is waving the Royal Navy's flag from the ship Cornelia. The Cornelia wasn't around for very long. It was built in 1808 and was broken up six years later in 1814. The Cornelia was called a fifth rate ship. This was because it had 32 guns like the one the sailor is standing in front of. Sixth rate ships had less than 32 guns. A first rate ship naturally had the most guns, from 110 guns upwards. The flag the sailor is waving is known as the White Ensign. Three types of ensigns are used for British ships. In this period the white ensign signified the white squadron; there were also blue and red squadrons.
