Unusual Artifacts: The Prince of Wales Beaker, 17th Century

The Victoria & Albert Museum

Made in the early Seventeenth Century, this pewter beaker has been molded with ornamental horizontal bands of fruit and flowers. At the front, the Royal Arms of the House of Stuart have been modeled with a crowned Tudor Rose. The reverse bears the three feathers of the Prince of Wales.

Such a vessel, designed for drinking beer, was probably not made for the Prince of Wales, but rather as an homage to him.

Object of the Day, Museum Edition: The Tudor Rose Sweetmeat Dish, 1925-6

The Victoria & Albert Museum

This dear sweatmeat dish takes the form of a Tudor Rose--raised and chased, with cast feet.

It was made in London between 1925 and 1926 by Omar Ramsden (born 1873 - died 1939). The reverse is marked OMAR RAMSDEN ME FECIT (OMAR RAMSDEN MADE ME). Ramsden trained at the Sheffield School of Art, and later moved to London where he set up a partnership with Alwyn Carr in 1899. After the First World War, Carr left the partnership and Ramsden worked alone, producing fashionable silver pieces in the Arts and Crafts style.

The Tudor Rose (sometimes called the Union Rose) is a traditional heraldic emblem of England with obvious origins from the Tudor dynasty wherein Henry Tudor (whose symbol was the red rose), upon taking the crown from Richard III and marrying Elizabeth of York, conjoined his symbol with that of his wife (the white rose of York), The Tudor rose is often surmounted by a crown and flanked by the thistles of Scotland or a thistle and clover of Ireland.

Mastery of Design: Pair of Brooches with Miniatures of William IV and Queen Adelaide, 1835

Pair of Brooches
Watercolor Miniatures Set in Gold and Diamonds
Depicting King William IV and Queen Adelaide, 1835
Crown Copyright The Royal Collection
Images Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Watercolor miniature portraits on ivory are set in frames of gold and diamonds in a Tudor rose pattern. Dating to 1835, the portraits, by a now unknown artist, depict King William IV and Queen Adelaide.

The pair was given to William IV by Caroline, Duchess of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. The set was thence bequeathed to Queen Victoria upon her accession to the throne following her uncle’s death.

Mastery of Design: The Rose of York Brooch, 1893

The Rose of York Brooch
Collingswood, 1893
Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Made by Collingwood & Co in 1893, this brooch was once the centerpiece of a bracelet. Created in the form of the Rose of York, this was the central portion of one several bracelets which Princess Mary of Teck (later Queen Mary) had made to give as gifts to the bridesmaids at her wedding to the Duke of York (later King George V). Each bridesmaid received one of these magnificent pieces of gold, enamel and diamonds. This particular one was given to Princess Victoria, the Duke’s sister and the second daughter of the Prince and Princess of Wales (George’s parents—later King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra).

While the Rose of York was meant to honor George’s then-recent creation as Duke of York (it’s tradition to create a Royal groom as a Duke, and therefore, the bride as a Duchess, just before their wedding—ex. the recent creation of Prince William of Wales and his bride, Katherine, as Duke and Duchess of Cambridge), there’s a further tribute to groom in the design. The diamond anchor signifies Prince George’s naval career.

Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Mastery of Design: The Tudor Rose Brooch, 1830-40

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The Victoria & Albert Museum

I know I’ve written about this brooch before, but I really like it and it’s in keeping with the situation today. Made between 1830 and 1840, this brooch is in the form of a Tudor rose. Bright gold, is pavé-set with turquoises, rubies, emeralds and pearls.

When originally made, this would have been the central ornament from a bracelet. Unfortunately, when this section was converted into a brooch, the rest of the bracelet was lost. The reverse of the piece has been fitted with a locket.

Unusual Artifacts: The Prince of Wales Beaker, 17th Century

The Victoria & Albert Museum

Made in the early Seventeenth Century, this pewter beaker has been molded with ornamental horizontal bands of fruit and flowers. At the front, the Royal Arms of the House of Stuart have been modeled with a crowned Tudor Rose. The reverse bears the three feathers of the Prince of Wales. 

Such a vessel, designed for drinking beer, was probably not made for the Prince of Wales, but rather as an homage to him.

Object of the Day, Museum Edition: The Tudor Rose Sweetmeat Dish, 1925-6

The Victoria & Albert Museum

This dear sweatmeat dish takes the form of a Tudor Rose--raised and chased, with cast feet.

It was made in London between 1925 and 1926 by Omar Ramsden (born 1873 - died 1939). The reverse is marked OMAR RAMSDEN ME FECIT (OMAR RAMSDEN MADE ME). Ramsden trained at the Sheffield School of Art, and later moved to London where he set up a partnership with Alwyn Carr in 1899. After the First World War, Carr left the partnership and Ramsden worked alone, producing fashionable silver pieces in the Arts and Crafts style.

The Tudor Rose (sometimes called the Union Rose) is a traditional heraldic emblem of England with obvious origins from the Tudor dynasty wherein Henry Tudor (whose symbol was the red rose), upon taking the crown from Richard III and marrying Elizabeth of York, conjoined his symbol with that of his wife (the white rose of York), The Tudor rose is often surmounted by a crown and flanked by the thistles of Scotland or a thistle and clover of Ireland.