Bulletin No. 73 - The Monarch’s Mark
Greetings all,
Spring is here and so too is an exceptional pair of diamond and enamel cufflinks with historic links to the Sport of Kings. They were gifted by Edward VII’s spirited mistress, Lillie Langtry, in recognition of service rendered by a winning jockey, who would later provide the King with his greatest sporting victory. And all this at a time when women were barred from registering horses.
A newly arrived collection of royal marks of favour in the form of presentation stickpins, brooches and cufflinks can also be found in this latest website update. Gifted by British monarchs and their consorts over the past hundred years or more, they include the cypher brooches of George VI, George V and Queen Mary, Edward VII and his long suffering Queen Consort, Alexandra of Denmark.
The royal connection continues with a collection of four original watercolour drawings by Helen McKie (1889-1957) for Country Life’s coronation edition, June 1953, depicting the ceremonial dress and regalia displayed on that great state occasion. McKie was a well known illustrator whose long and varied career included everything from sketching the interiors of Hitler’s Munich headquarters in the late 1930s to producing her iconic railway posters Waterloo Station – Peace and Waterloo Station – War.
Last but not least we have a fine portrait of an officer’s charger with a twist. Whereas many of the jobbing artists that worked in this particular genre have faded into obscurity, the animal art of James Bourhill was celebrated for its own sake in the 20th century, as formerly found in the Mayfair club of zoo and casino owner John Aspinall.
As always there is plenty more on the website so please do click through to see all the latest pieces.
All the best,
James, Toby, George & Wesley
All the best,
James, Toby, George & Wesley