Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Object of the Day: A Souvenir of the Coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, 1902

Last week, I showcased a souvenir from the coronation of Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. That mug in brown transferware by Royal Doulton is part of the Royal Collection. This past weekend, I happened to find a very close match to it.


A brilliant orange transfer print adorns this white china mug. It’s ornamental handle and rim are highlighted in gold. Here, we see portraits of the King and Queen Alexandra as they looked at the time of the 1902 coronation. As is often the case, they are surrounded by symbols of the empire.

The reverse of the mug is unique inasmuch as it features a decorative fleur-de-lis between two blocks of text. One reads, “Accession, Jan. 22, 1901. Coronation. June 26, 1902. Edward VII King and Emperor. Alexandra Queen and Empress.” The other inscriptions says, “Edward VII King of Great Britain and Ireland and of all the British dominions beyond the seas. Emperor of India.”

Though it has been broken at some point in the last 109 years, it’s still quite beautiful, and I’m thrilled to have it.


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