Unusual Artifacts: Wedding Favors, 1854

Click image to enlarge.
Wedding Favors
England, c. 1854
The Victoria & Albert Museum

The tradition of handing out wedding favors, especially to those who participated in the wedding party, goes back centuries. The origin of this custom is difficult to trace as it is not unique to any one culture.

Some of the most famous wedding favors are those which were presented at the 1840 marriage of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. “The Times” reported that white favors were given out at the lavish nuptials:

Every lady exhibited a white favour, some of which were admirable specimens of refined taste. They were of all sizes, many of white satin riband, tied up into bows and mixed with layers of rich silver lace. Others merely of riband intermixed with sprigs of orange flower blossom.

While the custom of orange blossoms at a wedding pre-dates Victoria’s wedding considerably and actually arose in Asia, the interest in the blooms was rejuvenated after that Royal wedding. After witnessing the gorgeous orange blossoms at Queen Victoria’s wedding, many brides wished to have similar favors and turned to more permanent imitation blossoms.

Take, for example, this pair of wedding favor froms an 1854 union. The orange blossoms on these favors are made of cloth and feature silvered paper leaves and trimmings of cream silk satin ribbon. These items are associated with the wedding of Elizabeth Wroughton Richards to the Reverend Andrew Nugee on August 8, 1854.

Gifts of Grandeur: Queen Victoria's Engagement Bracelet, 1839

Queen Victoria's Engagement Bracelet
November, 1839
Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection 
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

This gold bracelet is constructed of flat, tapering links—each engraved with tendrils and volutes. The centerpiece consists of a lovely amethyst which has been carved as a double heart. Behind this is a glass locket—now empty—which is engraved with a V monogram and the date: 23 Nov. 1939.

This attractive bauble was one of several elegant and costly engagement gifts given to Queen Victoria(1819-1901) upon the announcement to the Privy Council of her impending marriage to Prince Albert in 1839. The bracelet was given to the Queen by The Duchess of Kent, Her Majesty’s mother with whom she had, at best, a rather rocky relationship. 

Upon the Queen’s 1901 death, at her previous request, this bracelet was one of a group of jewels which was put on display in the “Albert Room” at Windsor Castle. This was the room in which Prince Albert had died in 1861. Victoria insisted that the room remain untouched and just as he left it—and, so it did until her own death. After Queen Victoria’s death, the group of jewels which she had specified be displayed in the Albert Room were to remain there and, she insisted, not passed on to her family. 

Gifts of Grandeur: The Edmund Ware Ring, 1912

Click on image to enlarge.
Engagement Ring
Edmund Ware
London, 1912
This and all related images from
The Victoria & Albert Museum

The work of British designer Edmund Ware (1883-1960) in 1912, this fantastic gold ring is bezel-set with a cabochon sapphire which is flanked by six brilliant-cut diamonds. Each diamond is presented in a separate, raised collet. The shoulders of the ring are adorned with tracery.

Aside from being an exceptional piece of jewelry and indicative of Ware’s designs, this ring has special significance, especially for Ware himself. Ware designed the ring as an engagement present for his future bride. There are no records which note her reaction to the gift, but I’d bet she was quite happy with it.

Unusual Artifacts: Wedding Favors, 1854

Click image to enlarge.
Wedding Favors
England, c. 1854
The Victoria & Albert Museum

The tradition of handing out wedding favors, especially to those who participated in the wedding party, goes back centuries. The origin of this custom is difficult to trace as it is not unique to any one culture.

Some of the most famous wedding favors are those which were presented at the 1840 marriage of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. “The Times” reported that white favors were given out at the lavish nuptials:

Every lady exhibited a white favour, some of which were admirable specimens of refined taste. They were of all sizes, many of white satin riband, tied up into bows and mixed with layers of rich silver lace. Others merely of riband intermixed with sprigs of orange flower blossom.

While the custom of orange blossoms at a wedding pre-dates Victoria’s wedding considerably and actually arose in Asia, the interest in the blooms was rejuvenated after that Royal wedding. After witnessing the gorgeous orange blossoms at Queen Victoria’s wedding, many brides wished to have similar favors and turned to more permanent imitation blossoms.

Take, for example, this pair of wedding favor froms an 1854 union. The orange blossoms on these favors are made of cloth and feature silvered paper leaves and trimmings of cream silk satin ribbon. These items are associated with the wedding of Elizabeth Wroughton Richards to the Reverend Andrew Nugee on August 8, 1854.

Antique Image of the Day: The Engagement Photo of TRH Queen Elizabeth II and the of Edinburgh, 1947

Engagement of Her Royal Highness the Princess Elizabeth
to Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten
July 10, 1947
Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Taken on July 10, 1947, by a now unknown photographer, this is one of the official engagement photos from the announcement of the impending marriage of then-Princess Elizabeth to Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten at Buckingham Palace.

On the day that the engagement of the future Queen Elizabeth II and future Duke of Edinburgh was announced, the Royal Family invited press photographers to Buckingham Palace to take photos of the couple. As is the custom, the bride-to-be clasped her hands in such a manner as to modestly display the engagement ring which Prince Philip had given her. The ring was made by the jewelers of Philip Antrobus Ltd,, and was created from diamonds which were taken from a tiara belonging to Prince Philip’s mother.

Just for fun, here's a picture of Her Majesty's ring.

Click on image to enlarge

The Engagement Ring of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
The platinum ring is set with a three carat solitaire flanked on each side
by five smaller brilliant-cuts.
Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Unusual Artifacts: Wedding Favors, 1854

Click image to enlarge.
Wedding Favors
England, c. 1854
The Victoria & Albert Museum

The tradition of handing out wedding favors, especially to those who participated in the wedding party, goes back centuries. The origin of this custom is difficult to trace as it is not unique to any one culture.

Some of the most famous wedding favors are those which were presented at the 1840 marriage of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. “The Times” reported that white favors were given out at the lavish nuptials:

Every lady exhibited a white favour, some of which were admirable specimens of refined taste. They were of all sizes, many of white satin riband, tied up into bows and mixed with layers of rich silver lace. Others merely of riband intermixed with sprigs of orange flower blossom.

While the custom of orange blossoms at a wedding pre-dates Victoria’s wedding considerably and actually arose in Asia, the interest in the blooms was rejuvenated after that Royal wedding. After witnessing the gorgeous orange blossoms at Queen Victoria’s wedding, many brides wished to have similar favors and turned to more permanent imitation blossoms.

Take, for example, this pair of wedding favor froms an 1854 union. The orange blossoms on these favors are made of cloth and feature silvered paper leaves and trimmings of cream silk satin ribbon. These items are associated with the wedding of Elizabeth Wroughton Richards to the Reverend Andrew Nugee on August 8, 1854.

Mastery of Design: The Edmund Ware Ring, 1912

Click on image to enlarge.
Engagement Ring
Edmund Ware
London, 1912
This and all related images from
The Victoria & Albert Museum

The work of British designer Edmund Ware (1883-1960) in 1912, this fantastic gold ring is bezel-set with a cabochon sapphire which is flanked by six brilliant-cut diamonds. Each diamond is presented in a separate, raised collet. The shoulders of the ring are adorned with tracery.

Aside from being an exceptional piece of jewelry and indicative of Ware’s designs, this ring has special significance, especially for Ware himself. Ware designed the ring as an engagement present for his future bride. There are no records which note her reaction to the gift, but I’d bet she was quite happy with it.

Gifts of Grandeur: Queen Victoria's Engagement Bracelet, 1839

Queen Victoria's Engagement Bracelet
November, 1839
Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

This gold bracelet is constructed of flat, tapering links—each engraved with tendrils and volutes. The centerpiece consists of a lovely amethyst which has been carved as a double heart. Behind this is a glass locket—now empty—which is engraved with a V monogram and the date: 23 Nov. 1939.

This attractive bauble was one of several elegant and costly engagement gifts given to Queen Victoria(1819-1901) upon the announcement to the Privy Council of her impending marriage to Prince Albert in 1839. The bracelet was given to the Queen by The Duchess of Kent, Her Majesty’s mother with whom she had, at best, a rather rocky relationship. 

Upon the Queen’s 1901 death, at her previous request, this bracelet was one of a group of jewels which was put on display in the “Albert Room” at Windsor Castle. This was the room in which Prince Albert had died in 1861. Victoria insisted that the room remain untouched and just as he left it—and, so it did until her own death. After Queen Victoria’s death, the group of jewels which she had specified be displayed in the Albert Room were to remain there and, she insisted, not passed on to her family. 

Antique Image of the Day: The Engagement Photo of TRH Queen Elizabeth II and the of Edinburgh, 1947

Engagement of Her Royal Highness the Princess Elizabeth
to Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten
July 10, 1947
Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Taken on July 10, 1947, by a now unknown photographer, this is one of the official engagement photos from the announcement of the impending marriage of then-Princess Elizabeth to Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten at Buckingham Palace.

On the day that the engagement of the future Queen Elizabeth II and future Duke of Edinburgh was announced, the Royal Family invited press photographers to Buckingham Palace to take photos of the couple. As is the custom, the bride-to-be clasped her hands in such a manner as to modestly display the engagement ring which Prince Philip had given her. The ring was made by the jewelers of Philip Antrobus Ltd,, and was created from diamonds which were taken from a tiara belonging to Prince Philip’s mother.

Just for fun, here's a picture of Her Majesty's ring.

Click on image to enlarge

The Engagement Ring of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
The platinum ring is set with a three carat solitaire flanked on each side
by five smaller brilliant-cuts.
Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Unusual Artifacts: A Wedding Wreath, 1854

Click image to enlarge.
Wedding Wreath
Hampshire, England, 1854
This and all related images from:
The Victoria & Albert Image

A mid-Nineteenth Century bride, perhaps looking back to the tradition carried on by Queen Victoria at her 1840 marriage to Prince Albert, would likely have wanted to adorn her head with a crown of orange blossoms. The practice of the bride wearing orange blossoms dates back many centuries to China. The flowers were long considered a symbol of purity and innocence and the trend quickly caught on in Europe when trade with the East became more common. By the early 1800s, English brides had adopted the custom, and, it’s one that endures to this day.

The trouble with the blossoms was that they faded quickly. For a bride wishing to preserve her marriage wreath as a memento or, even, to be worn by future generations, the use of real orange blossoms proved, at best, inconvenient. And, so, imitation orange blossoms were fashioned. Women’s periodicals of the era instructed ladies how to make their own wedding crowns and wreaths that emulated the real flower. Most commonly, wax, paper, and cloth were used to create the look of foliage—allowing the wreath to be preserved on a “memory chair” or “marriage chair” under a glass dome.

Here’s a great example of a faux orange blossom wreath. Made in 1854, this wedding crown has long been associated with the marriage of Elizabeth Wroughton Richards to Edward Nugée of Hampshire. It’s quite rare for such an object to survive in such perfect condition. Most interestingly, instead of the usual waxed paper blooms fashioned on structures of wired ribbon, this one is constructed entirely of feathers. Some of the white feathers have been died in shades of green to emulate foliage and others have been tinted yellow to give dimension to the blossoms. 

It’s possible that this expertly made wreath had been purchased from a milliner’s shop. However, it’s a likely bet that the piece was fashioned at home by a very talented individual.