Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-02-28
QUEEN vIcroRIA's PLATE.
Ornaments With Which Her Table is
Adorned.

Ornaments With Which Her Table is
Adorned.
The Yeoman of the Pantry with oblig-
ing civility points out every special piece
of workmanship, though, indeed, to most
of them a clearly written notice supplies
all the information we need. A cursory
glance around the larger of the two rooms
shows several complete dinner services OF
gold plate, made at different periods for
successive soyereigns. One of the most
massive is that made for the coronation of
George Ill. Q76u.
A most beautiful collection is entitled
Her Majesty's Breakfast Service, and is
in daily use. A stand of nearly three feet
high supports small kettle used in the
Sovereign's toilet. A christening font,
made for the baptism of FL. r. H., the
Crown Princess of Persia, and used upon
all succeeding occasions of royal christen-
ing, stands alone, and is beautiful speci-
men of goldsmith's work of the present
century. 1t is of no great dimensions, and
is enriched with border of water lilies
and their foliage in bold design. The Gen.
ter-pieces which adorn the royal tables at
state parties are of every possible design !;
the plateauX of every size, and most of them
highly finished works of art. A center
piece much to be admired, designed, we
believe, by the Prince Consort, has life
like representations of Her Majesty's IA
vorite dogs.
The only trophy from the turf is cup
won at Lincoln races by Fleur de Lys, a
horse belonging to George ". In the Gen.
ter of the smaller room, devoted equally to
the care of gold plate, there is an enormous
piece of work in silver and gold, made dur
ing the present sovereign's reign. 1t is en-
titled ''An Eau de Cologne Mountain, and
stands some feet from the ground under a
large glass case. 1t represents in the Gen.
ter portion of the Alhambra, while around
it are exquisitely modelled groups of figures
horses and dogs, and round the base famin-
goes and other birds are reproduced In life
like perfection.
There are tankards and cups of every
shape and size, and few of these deserve
very special notice from their historical
interest. Among these tankard presented
to the Prince of Wales on his coming of
age in 1888, was made from Spanish dollars
taken at the surrender of HAVANA in 1863
Another is completely covered with the
coins of the realm which were current from
1905 to 1870, and are curious relics, though
inferior in shape and beauty to others. In
small cases are laid out sets of various ar
ticles presented at different times to men,
bers of the royal family on their birthdays.
A case of pepper, mustard and salt boxes
bears the inscription " Presented by Prin
cess Elizabeth to Prince Regent, 1915"
Of old church plate there is but little in
the royal collection what there is bears
the mark of Queen AIMS reign, and is
chiefly remarkable for its plainess and sim
plicity of shape. Flagon. chalice, patens
and candlesticks are of the same date, and
are placed in the private chapel of the
castle when it is in use during her Majesty s
stay. Among the most beautiful designs
are some exquisite tankards by FlaXman,
the beauty OF which is recognized at once
as the great artists work.
A covered bowl with double handles is
pointed out as having belonged to Napoleon
l., and was part of the service found In his
carriage after the battle of Waterloo.
We scarcely realize to what extent the
| luxury of some of our earlier sovereigns
extended, till noticing some beautiful
stands of at least two feet in hight, and
asking their use, we are told that they are
fire-dogs, and bear the date of Charles IL,
1860; and in close proximity is another
article of great Interest," pair of bellows
mounted in gold, which belonged to Neil
Gwynne. A massive toilet service. used
| by her Majesty, was made for Queen Mary
| H., 1858, and consists of a large mirror,
exquisiteiy chased, boxes of various sizes
and shapes, well fitted for monarch's use.
Among other articles of QGeen Mary IL. S
reign are another pair of tire-dogs, and in
Vulnerable candlesticks, salt-cellars, etc.
but one of the most noticeable is small
spice box, used by William and Mary.
Seeking the earliest dates, among the col
lection are pair of tankards, indisputably
the work of Benvenuto Cellini, and mar
velous piece of the same masterhand in a
cup formed by large nautilus shell, the
golden lid surmounted by the figure of
Jupiter and enriched with fine chased work
| around the shell, its stem and base.
On the same shelf stands another tank
ard, dated 1912, and called the Henry VIII.
tankard, for on its side the figure of the
monarch is seen in bold relief. A curious
high hagon of Spanish workmanship was
| found on board the Admiral's ship when
taken in the Spanish Armada, and NO
doubt was presented to Queen Elizabeth
after the great victory. Some beautiful
tankards of beautifully carved ivory set in
gold are in the collection, bearing the mark
of 1886.
An ancient piece of foreign workman
ship has great historical interest, as it is
recorded that this tankard was presented
| by the Queen of Sweden to Charles XI. on
! the birth of Charles XII, from whom il
was taken at the battle of Pultowa by
Peter the Great, who presented it to his
favorite physician, and, after passing
through many hands, it at last became the
property of Mr.. Vernon 1.-THE great col.
lector of Vernon gallery, who presented il
to King William ".
Some enormous shields hang near these
cups, representing Scripture histories, an.
cient Greek tables, or NEUROLOGICAL stories.
A high cup, of peculiar workmanship, is
the one presented to Charles l. by the
principals of the University of Oxford
when the King held his Parliament there
in 1914, and it would appear that this cup
was very closely copied at later period,
for one very similar to it dates from Charles
H. reign.
A large rosewater dish belonged to Eliz.
abeth, Queen of Bohemia, and was a pres.
ent from her father, James l. These dishes
are still in use at great Court feasts, when
the dish, full of rosewater, is handed round
to the guests to dip their fingers in.
A cup commemorative of the victories OF
the Prussian army, lSl3l4, presented by
Frederick William III. to the Prince Re.
gent, has the iron cross of valor inserted in
the lid.
The amounting spoons which were used al
the coronation of George ". lie in a case
and are enriched with diamonds and other
precious stones on the handles.
THE DIVORCE.
The Court was full.
| mean the Courtroom was full. O
course the Court might have been full also