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| Stickpin with Enamel Portrait of Prince Albert England, 1865 Crown Copyright The Royal Collection The Victoria & Albert Museum |
The enamel portrait contained in this handsome tie-pin is based on a photograph by John Edwin Mayall which was taken within weeks of the Prince Consort's death in December of 1861.
The portrait by William Charles Bell (1831-1904) is set in a gold stick-pin with a chased Greek key design.
The pin was presented to one Nestor Tirard by Her Majesty Queen Victoria in 1865. On the pin’s reverse this gift has been inscribed: “Nestor Tirard/fromVR. Coburg Aug 26./1865.” The piece still retains its original blue velvet presentation case. After Prince Albert’s death, the Queen often made commemorative gifts in her beloved husband’s honor.
So, who was this Nestor Tirard. Jean Nestor Tirard (d. 1888) was the hairdresser to Queen Victoria from 1846 until 1867.
1 comment:
Hello!
I just happened upon this blog. Nestor Tirard was my great great grandfather. He was a doctor at Kings College Hospital and lived in London with his wife and daughters. He was also a keen illustrator and we're lucky to have some of his drawings.
His obituary (from the British Medical Journal) can be found here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2456483/?page=1
I didn't know about the pin; next time I am nearby I will pop into the V&A to have a look.
Thanks!
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