Mastery of Design: Queen Victoria’s Portrait Bracelet, 1839

Gold Serpent Bracelet with Enamel Portrait of
Queen Victoria
Commissioned by the Queen, 1839
Rundell, Bridge & Rundell
Gold, Diamonds, Rubies, Enamel
The Royal Collection

Over a period of several years, Queen Victoria had commissioned a set of bracelets from the Royal Jewelers at Rundell, Bridge & Rundell. These bracelets—gold, set with rubies (for passion), diamonds (for eternity) and a serptentine design (to suggest “wisdom”)—all featured enamel portraits of Queen Victoria copied by hand by Henry Pierce Bone after the Coronation portrait by George Hayter. The only difference was that Victoria ordered that she not be wearing the Imperial Crown in the enamel portraits on the bracelets since they were to be given as personal gifts.

Bracelet ReverseThe Royal Collection

This is one of those bracelets—one of the originals, in fact, which is housed in the Royal Collection. The reverse of the bracelet shows the queen’s insignia “V.R.” for Victoria Regina and the date of July, 1839. This bracelet, it is believed, was given as a special gift by the queen to her mother, The Duchess of Kent. 

Mastery of Design: Queen Victoria’s Portrait Bracelet, 1839

Gold Serpent Bracelet with Enamel Portrait of
Queen Victoria
Commissioned by the Queen, 1839
Rundell, Bridge & Rundell
Gold, Diamonds, Rubies, Enamel
The Royal Collection

Over a period of several years, Queen Victoria had commissioned a set of bracelets from the Royal Jewelers at Rundell, Bridge & Rundell. These bracelets—gold, set with rubies (for passion), diamonds (for eternity) and a serptentine design (to suggest “wisdom”)—all featured enamel portraits of Queen Victoria copied by hand by Henry Pierce Bone after the Coronation portrait by George Hayter. The only difference was that Victoria ordered that she not be wearing the Imperial Crown in the enamel portraits on the bracelets since they were to be given as personal gifts.

Bracelet Reverse
The Royal Collection

This is one of those bracelets—one of the originals, in fact, which is housed in the Royal Collection. The reverse of the bracelet shows the queen’s insignia “V.R.” for Victoria Regina and the date of July, 1839. This bracelet, it is believed, was given as a special gift by the queen to her mother, The Duchess of Kent. 

Painting of the Day: George IV Wearing the Order of the Garter, 1821

Portrait Miniature of King George IV Wearing the Star of the Order of the Garter
Enamel on Copper
Henry Pierce Bone, 1821
After Thomas Lawrence
The Gilbert Collection at
The Victoria & Albert Museum

The work of Nineteenth-Century English master painter Henry Pierce Bone (1779-1855), this enamel miniature on copper dates to 1821. The piece, an oval head and shoulders portrait of King George IV wearing a red uniform with the Star of the Order of the Garter, is set into a gold, enamel and ormolu frame set with pearls.

Such miniature portraits of the Sovereign were made to be given as gifts meant as a show of favor to the recipient. Bone was a favorite of the Royal Family who often employed him as a miniaturist. His ability to copy large state portraits in enamel was unparalleled. In this instance, the miniature is a brilliant replica of a famous portrait of King George IV by Sir Thomas Lawrence (1769-1830), considered the most fashionable portraitist of his day.

The reverse is inscribed:

His Majesty
London Oct. 1821
Painted by Hy Bone
RA En. Painter to the King &c.

Painting of the Day: George IV Wearing the Order of the Garter, 1821

Portrait Miniature of King George IV Wearing the Star of the Order of the Garter
Enamel on Copper
Henry Pierce Bone, 1821
After Thomas Lawrence
The Gilbert Collection at
The Victoria & Albert Museum

The work of Nineteenth-Century English master painter Henry Pierce Bone (1779-1855), this enamel miniature on copper dates to 1821. The piece, an oval head and shoulders portrait of King George IV wearing a red uniform with the Star of the Order of the Garter, is set into a gold, enamel and ormolu frame set with pearls.

Such miniature portraits of the Sovereign were made to be given as gifts meant as a show of favor to the recipient. Bone was a favorite of the Royal Family who often employed him as a miniaturist. His ability to copy large state portraits in enamel was unparalleled. In this instance, the miniature is a brilliant replica of a famous portrait of King George IV by Sir Thomas Lawrence (1769-1830), considered the most fashionable portraitist of his day.

The reverse is inscribed:

His Majesty
London Oct. 1821
Painted by Hy Bone
RA En. Painter to the King &c.