Morning journal and courier., 1886-03-26
Princess Beatrice,s Wedding Chest.

From the London Standard.
 On the marriage of Princess Beatrice committee of ladies was formed at the Man sion House, Bristol, for the purpose of giv- ing effect to widely expressed wish to make a wedding present to her royal highness, and it was decided that the principal article in the present should be such as might represent the art life in the manufactures of the city, and that the present should consist of marriage chest and piece of embroid cry. It was also resolved that the chest should be designed and manufactured by
 Bristol firm. ana that the embroidery should be the work of the Ladies' School of Needle work. The design of MT. Caleb Trapnell, of the firm of Messrs. Trapnell & Cane, of Col lege Green, was accepted for the marriage chest which is made from ancient oak ob
 tained from Radcliffe Church, and has won universal admiration The size of the chest is about three feet four inches long by two feet two inches, and is three feet four inches in height. The style adopted is French Re- naissance. The top has pair of folding doors in the frames of which are carved panels representing the return of Queen Elizabeth and her courtiers from an entertainment giv- en in her honor during her visit to Bristol in 1874. In the background is represent ation of Radcliffe Church as it appeared st the time These doors enclose compart- ment lined with silk and continuing an illum- mated address designed and executed by Mr. Kingstona, a former student and now one of the masters of the Bristol School of Science aud Art. The frame surrounding the doors consists of an enriched moulding of the rose, shamrock and thistle in the centre of which are oval shields supported by figures spring l ing from foliage and encircled with wreaths of myrtle, within which are the initials of and RaftaO The l the chest are divided into panels, three on each side and one on each end. In the cen ter panel of the front side is carved repre- sentation of Henry VII. presenting his sword to the Mayor of Bristol, on the ocoa- sion of the renewal of some ancient charters, with arequest that it shall be borne before him on all occasions of state The centre panel on the other and corresponding side of the chest is illustrative of ancient maritime enterprise of the city in the sailing of Sebas- tian Cabot from Bristol, on his second voy- age of discovery. In the two end panels of the chest are respectively the arms of the Princess Beatrice, with the motto ' In te
 Domino spero " and the arms of the city of
 Bristol. Eight carved pilasters form the angles of the chest and represent wreaths of bay leaves surmounted by capitals of volut- ed female heads The chest is supported pillars, richly carved, and rests on massive base of solid oak MT. Trapnell designed and manuf ,ctured the beautiful casket which accompanied the wedding present to the Prin- cess of Wales some twenty three years ago. The silk embroidered eoverlet is from an an cient Venetian design never before worked. It is magnificent example of color and form and beautifully executed; but owing to some changes in the Clifton School of Needlework, the coverlet was executed by some pupils of the South Kensington Art Schools. Both of these unique gifts are from '' The wom en of all classes in the city of Bristol to her royal highness." Arrangements are in progress for the presentation in due form.