Antique Image of the Day: Princess Maud and Prince Charles of Denmark 1896-1901

Prince Charles of Denmark and Princess Maud
1896-1901
Frame by Viktor Aarne of Fabergé
The Royal Collection

This beautiful frame of three-color gold, dazzling blue guilloché enamel, half pearls, rose diamonds, and ivory by Viktor Aarne of Fabergé rather steal focus from the photographs it holds. But, honestly, there are few photos which could rival the beauty of this magnificent frame.


Still, the photos themselves are quite handsome. Here, we see the pretty Princess Maud in a photo from 1896. Maud was the daughter of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. The other oval houses a photo of her new husband, Prince Charles of Denmark who was quite a fine-looking chap. Maude married the Prince in 1896. From 1905 onward, he was King Haakon VII of Norway, ensuring that Maud always enjoyed a Royal lifestyle.

Object of the Day: A Souvenir of the Coronation of King George V and Queen Mary, 1911

Things have gotten quite muggy here at Bertie’s house. No, not just because of the humid weather, but because of the introduction of nearly a dozen new pieces of Royal Memorabilia to my increasingly large collection of such items. Thanks to my parents, my study is now filled with even more little Royal visages—particularly of George V and my personal favorite, Queen Mary.


I’ve written at length about my fondness for Queen Mary—the seemingly steely one-time Queen Mother and fierce collector of important antiquities. George V was equally fierce in a different way. He inherited the throne at a time of political and social turmoil and led his nation through the chaos of the First World War. Known to the current Queen as “Grandfather England,” George V guided both Britain and his family through a very difficult period and is responsible, in many ways, for the current face of the Royal Family and the Empire.

I do so enjoy having these Royal souvenirs around me and can’t help but smile when I look at them. They connect me to a history which means so much to me. While Britain is not my country of origin, I feel a strong kinship with its history and the way in which the story of the Empire fits into the great puzzle of world culture.

This mug is particularly special to me. At one point I had my hands on it and when we were checking out, it was accidentally separated from our purchases. So, I’m especially glad to have it. While it does not have a maker’s mark, it is dated, 1911, and it’s an unusual example of a Coronation mug of the period. It is not only brightly-colored, but decorated with English roses. With its fine images and unusual color scheme, it has a visual strength which nicely represents the power of a very important reign.

Brit-n-Tea Tour!

I don't know about you, but ever since the Royal Wedding I've had even more of a hankering to visit the U.K. How about you? Well, stop right here.

Crown & Crumpet, San Francisco interior (above)

How about a 12 day tour of England led by Crown & Crumpet owners Amy and Christopher Dean? Sounds amazing to me!

This is a dream tour for all of us antique and tea lovers! Ahh...visit England's poshest estates and get the inside info on everything.

Here are a few highlights:

-a trip to the famous Newark Antique Market where Chris, a former antique dealer, will give you insider tips when shopping the over 4,000 dealers.

-a visit to Althorp, Princess Diana's childhood home

-three nights at The Mermaid Inn, a 14th century coaching inn

-a visit to Woburn Abbey, the ancestral home of the Duchess of Bedford, the originator of afternoon tea

-see a fashion exhibit at the exquisite Brighton Pavilion

-a “behind the scenes” tour of Chatsworth, the family home to the Duke of Devonshire

-the elegant “fashionista tea” at the Berkeley Hotel

I am totally fantasizing about this trip and wondering if I can make it happen! Amy & Chris are the most delightful people, so that makes the trip sound even more enticing. The dates are August 13-25th. Please click here for all of the details including a full itinerary.

Cheers!

Object of the Day: A Souvenir of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee, 1887

In 1887, all of Britain celebrated the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria and honored her fifty years on the throne with a procession that as Mark Twain described it, “stretched to the limit of sight in both directions," a lavish banquet and a service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey.


English merchants produced a variety of souvenirs marking the occasion. Images of the queen, sculptures, china and glass items were available for the public to have a lasting reminder of the historic event. Among them, pressed glass items such as this dome were produced. Long separated from its mate, it’s certainly the lid to some kind of vessel—either a candy dish or a biscuit jar. The dome is all that remains of the original object. But, after nearly a century and a quarter, it’s amazing that this even remains at all.

It reads, “The Queen’s Jubilee, 1837-1887,” with the initials of “V.R.” and decorative Maltese crosses. A similar cross forms a handle at the top.

Recently found at a North Texas antique store, looking quite lonely, it came home with me. While it’s bottom half is no longer with us, it now sits atop a crystal compote and catches the colored light from the hallway window quite beautifully. When I walk by it, I am reminded of Queen Victoria, and, so, after all these years, it once again serves its purpose.