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Persimmon
Henrik Wigström, 1908
Commissioned by King Edward VII
Silver, Nephrite
The Royal Collection |
As a young man, King Edward VII took a keen interest in horseracing and steeple-chasing. Of his many horses, one of his favorites was his many-time champion, Persimmon. Persimmon had won both the Derby Stakes and the St. Leger Stakes among many others. King George V, Edward’s son, recalled watching his father’s magnificent horse at the Derby, “it was a splendid victory & it was only won by a head, Papa led 'Persimmon' in, he got a tremendous ovation, I never saw such a sight & I never heard such cheering. I won £300 on the race.”
King Edward VII commissioned a silver figure of Persimmon from Fabergé’s Henrik Wigström who had sculpted jeweled figures of many of the Royal animals. Edward was so pleased with the figure that he commissioned six more bronze versions of it. He gave the bronze replicas to friends and family.
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