@ John from Newfoundland,
The Clothing Warrants of 1768 and 1802 are unclear about the colour of the staffs of British infantry colours or the wood from which they were made.
There were no illustrations so the precise appearance was a matter of fashion and interpretation by the two or three companies that made them.
In the absence of anything specific I have always thought that staffs were natural wood, which is how Samuel Milne depicts them in his 1893 study. Similarly, Andrew Ross also depicts what appear to be dark natural wood staffs in his 1885 study of Scottish infantry colours hanging in the nave of St Giles, Edinburgh.
The few survivors I have seen certainly appear to be dark natural wood, but whether this is the effect of age or preservative is not obvious.
Colours (except Militia colours which were provided by the state) were paid for by the Regimental Colonel some of whom were more parsimonious than others. British colours tended to be used until they fell to pieces, one reason why so few survive from the period.
No pair colours of were necessarily the same. The reasons included the ‘recycling' of expensive embroidery into replacements and that sometimes only a single colour was presented to replace one that had worn out so that a pair might consist of colours of different ‘vintages'.
This is the description that applied throughout the Napoleonic period.
1768 Warrant:
"The King's, or first colour of every regiment, is to be the Great Union throughout.
The second Colour to be the colour of the facing of the regiment, with the Union in the upper canton; except those regiments which are faced with red, white, or black.
The second colour of those regiments which are faced with red or white, is to be the red cross of St. George in a white field, and the Union in the upper canton. The second colour of those which are faced with black, is to be St. George's cross throughout; Union in the upper canton;
the three other cantons, black.
In the center of each colour is to be painted, or embroidered, in Gold Roman Characters, the Number of the Rank of the regiment, within the Wreath of Roses and Thistles on the same stalk; except those regiments which are allowed to wear any Royal Devices, or Ancient Badges; on whose colours the rank of the regiment is to be painted, or embroidered, towards the upper corner. The size of the colours to be six feet six inches flying, and six feet deep on
the pike. The length of the pike (spear and ferril included) to be nine feet ten inches. The cords and tassels of the whole to be crimson and gold mixed."
The 1802 Warrant:
This warrant is unchanged except for the following which reflects the Union with Ireland by the addition of shamrocks to the wreath, and the placing of the regimental number on the colours of those regiments with special badges.
"In the centre of each Colour is to be painted of embroidered in Gold Roman Characters the Number of the Rank of the Regiment with in Wreath of Roses, and Thistles and the Shamrock on the same stalk, except those Regiments which are allowed to wear any Devices or Ancient Badges, on whose Colour the Rank of the Regiments is to painted or Embroidered towards the upper Canton. The Size of the Colour to be Six Feet Six Inches flying and Six Feet deep on the pike. The length of the Pike, Spear and Ferrule included, to be Nine Feet Ten Inches. The Cords and Tassels of the whole to be Crimson and Gold mixed."
Of possible interest, both warrants say that drums are to be made of wood with the front painted in regimental facing colour. The rest of the instrument, presumably, plain natural wood.
paints his first three ships from the starter set.
