Masterpiece of the Week: The Queen Mother’s Ruby Necklace, 1907

Necklace
Boucheron, 1907
Rubies, Diamonds, Gold
The Royal Collection

A close friend of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, and King George VI, the Honorable Mrs. Ronald Greville was known for her beauty, style and impeccable taste. Mrs. Greville was a keen collector of jewels, and during her life amassed an unprecedented assortment of diamond and gemstone pieces.


Upon her death in 1942, Mrs. Greville bequeathed her amazing collection to Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. The Queen Mother presented her daughter (now Queen Elizabeth II) with many of the pieces from Mrs. Greville’s collection on the day of her wedding in 1947.

This magnificent necklace was among those jewels given to Her Majesty on her wedding day. Created specifically for Mrs. Greville by Boucheron in Paris in 1907, the necklace of diamonds and bold red rubies is the epitome of Edwardian style with its floral pattern and dense settings.

The only change to the necklace since being presented to the Queen in 1947 is that it has been shortened by the two smallest, uppermost, flower clusters.

Object of the Day: A Souvenir of the Life of the Queen Mother, 2002

Not all Royal souvenirs were created to commemorate a coronation or marriage. Sometimes, items were made to celebrate the life of a member of the Royal Family after a death.


This mug, made in 2002, is a tribute to the life of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother who passed away at the age of 101. Throughout her lifetime, she was a constant source of support for her husband, King George VI, throughout World War II and until his death; she saw the ascension of her daughter to the throne and served as a trusted advisor for decades.

Featuring a beautiful portrait of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, in some of her collection of beautiful diamonds, the mug’s body is predominately the robin’s egg blue which Her Majesty often wore. The reverse of the mug honors the Queen Mother with the dates of her birth and death.

Object of the Day: A Souvenir of the Unexpected Coronation of King George VI, 1937

Born in 1895—the son of the future King George V and Mary of Teck—he was welcomed into the world on the anniversary of the death of his Great Grandfather, Prince Albert. His parents were nervous to tell Queen Victoria of the child’s birth given the fact that she was distraught by the anniversary of her beloved husband’s passing. And, so, to mollify his grandmother, George V called his son, “Albert.” The name was said to have pleased the Queen who wrote, “I am all impatience to see the new one, born on such a sad day but rather more dear to me, especially as he will be called by that dear name which is a byword for all that is great and good.”


Known affectionately as “Bertie” throughout his life, the young prince never imagined that he would be king. At the time of his birth, he was fourth in line for the throne after his grandfather (Edward VII), his father (George V) and his eldest brother (Edward VIII). Nervous, plagued by ill-health and a horrible stutter, “Bertie” preferred a quiet life, marrying Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon in 1923.

Bertie’s mother, Mary of Teck, and father both had issues with their party-boy eldest son. His parents hoped that, somehow, Bertie would one day ascend to the throne. George V was known to have said, "I pray to God my eldest son will never marry and have children, and that nothing will come between Bertie and Lilibet [Bertie and Elizabeth’s eldest daughter, now Queen Elizabeth II] and the throne."

It seemed that George V’s wish would come to pass—despite reluctance from his youngest son. Upon the death of George V, Edward ascended to the throne as Edward VIII. However, Edward was not to last a year and walked away from the role of sovereign before his coronation, preferring to marry his questionable lady-friend instead of ruling the empire.

The date of the coronation remained the same, only the king was different. May 19, 1937 saw the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (later known as The Queen Mother). Aside from his personal issues, King George VI has much to deal with during his reign—the splintering of the empire as well as the Second World War.

Souvenirs from the 1937 coronation are quite interesting to me. In my collection of Royal memorabilia, I have several items with the same coronation date—some for Edward VIII, some for George VI. The souvenirs made for Edward VIII were quickly pulled from the shelves and largely destroyed, replaced with quickly-assembled pieces bearing the countenances of George VI and Elizabeth.

I especially like this mug. The images of the King and Queen are classic late-1930’s artwork. The stylized profiles set against the primarily-colored crest look almost ethereal and are the perfect symbol of the reluctant king and his supportive bride.

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.

Object of the Day: A Cup and Saucer from the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II

When we think of Queen Elizabeth II, we tend to think of her as the perfectly-coiffed sovereign with her rigid, white hair and ubiquitous blue handbag. However, sixty years ago, she was a fresh-faced, sporty princess who was known for her beauty and girlish charm.


This commemorative cup and saucer by Royal Art Pottery in Longton, England was produced for the 1953 Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. It’s quite a lovely little set of a delicate bone color with scalloped edges. What’s unusual about this set is the image of Elizabeth II. Instead of the usual formal portrait which is often centered on such items, these bear a less formal likeness of the Queen in an almost candid shot. She looks quite young in her tam o’ shanter and Scottish garb. Images such as this one show Elizabeth as the keen sportswoman that she is and also serve to cast her in her role as Sovereign of Scotland.

I love this cup and saucer because of its contrast with the images of the Queen in her formal court robes. It reminds us that, at heart, she’s a very down-to earth (for a Queen) person.

Sunday Viewing: The King’s Speech, 2010

Screenwriter Davis Seidler long had a fascination with King George VI. As a child, Seidler had also worked to overcome a stammer and was inspired by the story of the reluctant King whose speech impediment caused him considerable distress. While researching the life of King George VI, Seidler discovered that His Majesty’s stammer was greatly improved after working with a speech therapist, Lionel Logue.

The Queen Mother, wife of the late King George VI, would not give her permission for the details of her husband’s association with Logue to be revealed until after her death. Upon her death in 2002, Seidler wanted to begin on the project again, but health problems prevented him from doing so. Finally, in 2009, he began the screenplay that would become The King’s Speech. Initially, he used creative license to recreate the interactions between Logue and King George VI. However, nine weeks before shooting, Logue’s diaries were found and actual exchanges were introduced into the script.

Directed by Tom Hooper, The King’s Speech stars Colin Firth as King George VI (he received an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for his portrayal), Helena Bonham Carter as the future Queen Mother, Geoffrey Rush as Logue, Claire Bloom as Mary of Teck (the mother of George VI and Edward VIII) along with Sir Derek Jacobi and Guy Pearce. Filmed in and around London in a variety of locations meant to double for Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace, the film was lauded for its visual historical accuracy.

The picture concerns not only King George VI’s struggle with his speech impediment, but also his conflicting feelings about the abdication of his brother, the brief King Edward VIII. Firth and Bonham Carter portray the Duke and Duchess of York as an intimate couple who are strong in their commitment to one another and to their country and who are caring parents of their two children, Princess Elizabeth (the present Queen) and Princess Margaret Rose.

Though the picture takes some dramatic license with facts, it is mostly quite accurate. Any inaccuracies can be overlooked in favor of the brilliant performances and stunning visuals. This is one film that deserved the attention which was lavished upon it and is a must-see for any anglophile, history buff or lover of excellent cinema.

Gifts of Grandeur: The Dorset Bow Brooch, 1893 (Reposted from May 12, 2011)

The Dorset Bow Fan
English, 1893
The Royal Collection

This exceptionally fine diamond brooch helped start a trend in jewelry design, giving rise to the popularity of “bow brooches,” a style which endures to this day. The brooch was a gift to Mary of Teck on the occasion of her marriage (to the future King George V) in 1893.


When Mary’s granddaughter, Princess Elizabeth (now Queen Elizabeth II) married in 1947, this was among the many exquisite diamond pieces which Queen Mary lavished on the young bride.

Mastery of Design: A Pendant with Tassie Cameos of George III and Charlotte, 1780 (Reposted from May 12, 2011)

This delicate pendant gold, enamel, glass cameo and pearls bears the likenesses of King George III and Queen Charlotte. The cameos are referred to as “Tassie Cameos” because they are made in the style of William Tassie who perfected a means of crafting sparkling silhouettes in glass of famous people.

Pendant with Tassie Cameos
of King George III and
Queen Charlotte
1780
The Royal Collection

The pendant, created in 1780, was given by King George III and Queen Charlotte to the Honorable Georgiana Townsend, daughter of the 1st Viscount Sydney—the Leader of the House of Commons who was largely responsible for reaching terms of peace with the United States in 1783 following the American Revolution. It was interesting the Sydney was so instrumental in smoothing things over with the Colonies considering that the whole kerfuffle started with the Stamp Act of 1765—an act passed by Sydney’s cousin, Charles Townsend.

Georgiana had spent most of her life in the favor of the Royal Court and was a favorite of Queen Charlotte. Later in her life, Georgiana was appointed to the sinecure of State Housekeeper at Windsor, a position she held until the end of her life. She lived in the Norman Tower at Windsor Castle until her death.

In 1915, most of the items in the Sydney collection were auctioned off. Mary of Teck purchased this pendant at that auction as part of her quest to return as many Royal objects as possible to the Royal Collection.

Saturday Sparkle: Queen Mary’s Stomacher, circa 1920

Queen Mary's Stomacher
Circa 1920
Gold and Diamonds
The Royal Collection

I love the word “stomacher.” The term often refers to a decorative fabric panel of a triangular shape that fits into the front of a woman’s gown at the bodice. It also refers to a similarly shaped piece of jewelry which is worn in the same spot on a gown.


This stomacher was made for Mary of Teck around 1920, possible by Garrard’s. This magnificent work of gold and diamonds is actually three brooches that can be worn as one piece or individually. It was constructed from the large diamonds from two of her wedding presents: the “Kapurthala” stomacher and the ‘Town of Swansea’ crescent, both given in 1893. Queen Mary wore the stomacher frequently and made it a gift to her granddaughter, Princess Elizabeth (now Queen Elizabeth II) on her wedding day in 1947.

Painting of the Day: Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee Service at Westminster Abbey, 1887

Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee Service at
Westminster Abbey
William Ewart Lockart,, 1887-1900
The Royal Collection

To commemorate the first fifty years of her illustrious reign, the people of Britain gathered to watch Queen Victoria enter Westminster Abbey on June 21, 1887 as she attended a regal service in her honor.


The event was captured by photographers and painters alike. This scene from within the abbey is the work of William Ewart Lockart (1846-1900) at the request of the Queen. The painting took three years to complete, delivered to Victoria in 1890.

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.

Object of the Day: A Royal Doulton Commemorative Mug

Royal Doulton has been producing exceptional tableware, china and collectables since 1815. The very name is revered for its quality and it has become associated with fine English style and culture. The artists at Royal Doulton have also been known to participate in the tradition of producing Royal souvenirs such as this gold-rimmed China mug made to commemorate the 1911 coronation of King George V and Queen Mary.


I’ve written at length about my appreciation of Mary of Teck. In fact, as I write this, she’s glowering down at me from a lovely photograph. She’s beautifully represented on this mug as is George V who looks far more handsome than he really was. A notable bit of trivia is that the artist has taken great pains to represent the Royal badges and insignia worn by the King and Queen Consort. For example, the Badge of the Order of Victoria and Albert is clearly identifiable amongst the jewels on Mary’s sash.

Queen Mary's Badge of the Order of Victoria and Albert
The Royal Collection

Unfolding Pictures: Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation Fan, 1937

Queen Elizabeth's Coronation Fan
Ostrich Feathers, Tortoiseshell, gold, diamonds
English, 1937
The Royal Collection

The art of creating large and elegant fans from ostrich feathers reached a pinnacle in the mid Nineteenth Century. Queen Elizabeth, later the Queen Mother, had always admired these antique fans. For the 1937 coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the Worshipful Company of Fan-makers banded together to create a special gift for their new queen. As was tradition, they sought to make the fan entirely from materials native to Great Britain.


The result is this magnificent fan of ostrich feathers with blond tortoiseshell guards and sticks. Made in the style of the mid-Nineteenth Century, the fan is the work of Charles Beale Gunner of the Worshipful Company of Fan-makers who included a crowned “Double E” cipher in gold (supplied by R. & S. Garrard & Co.) on the front guard.

Before it was presented to the future Queen, the fan was displayed for all to see—along with many of the other coronation gifts. The Queen Mother never really used the fan. For this reason, it’s in remarkably good condition, retaining its original box.

Object of the Day: An Antique Photograph of Prince Albert

Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (later The Prince Consort; Francis Albert Augustus Charles Emmanuel (1819-1861), is forever known as the beloved husband of Queen Victoria for whom she mourned until the end of her long life in 1901. After their 1840 marriage, Prince Albert was a vital part of the Royal Family and responsible for setting the tone for future generations of Royals who have followed his advise that the Royal Family should always maintain a position above politics. Aside from his role in running the Royal households, Prince Albert was a major contributor to the designs and fashion of the day and showed that he was a talented designer (especially of jewelry) in his own right. An avid sportsman and patron of the arts, Albert was tirelessly devoted to his family and ensuring their education and well-being.

This photograph is Albert dates between 1840 and 1850 and is actually French in origin, most likely sold as a souvenir. On the front mat, the words “Le Prince Albert” have been written in pencil. The same hand has written, “P-ce Albert” on the reverse. The back of the photo bears two stamps. One states it comes from the, “Maison Alph Giroux” and that “William et Cie” was the photographer. Maison Alphonse Giroux was a Parisian dealer of art ranging from sculptures to photographs.

Prince Albert showed a keen interest in photography and enjoyed collecting photos and working with photographers. Images similar to this one are still housed in The Royal Collection.