29th Apr, 2021 9:30
Fine Art, Antiques & Asian Art
A fine 19th-century Victorian period scrap album compiled by Eliza-Maria Gray. To include a page featuring attributed plaited hairwork made by Queen Victoria and her daughter Victoria, Princess Royal (later Crown Princess of Prussia). The first plait by Queen Victoria from the blonde hair of her daughter Princess Beatrice (1857-1944), with some dyed pink and tessellated into alternating pink and white triangles (3cm in length). The other two plats similarly plaited with natural fair hair only, by Victoria, Princess Royal (1840-1901), from the hair of her eldest son Wilhelm II (1859-1941), measuring 3 cm and 6 cm respectively. The album leaf with a contemporary ink identification to the head of the page. The remaining album contains various calligraphical quotes, poems (after Byron, Tennyson, Shakespeare, etc.), engravings, prints and several original drawings and watercolours, hand-cut paper flowers, pressed leaves (inc. from Agra, India) as well as various royal and aristocratic seals, including Queen Victoria, the King & Crown Prince of Russia, and several other royal prince and princesses, dukes and duchesses etc. Approximately seventy leaves in total, all gilt edges with gilt-decorated morocco covers and back strip (detached but present) 30cm x 24 cm.
See provenance note below
Provenance: According to the peerage genealogical survey, Eliza Maria Gray married Edward Dixon and lived at Horsley House, Worcestershire. After his death, she married Swinburne FitzHardinge Berkeley on 4th March 1862.
An unusual example of antique hairwork, given the popular Victorian activity of hairwork and hair jewellery is more usually associated with mourning and death rather than, as here, birth and joy. The inscriptions at the head of the page with the hairwork reads 'I. Plaited by Her Majesty Queen Victoria on the birth of H.R.H. The Princess Beatrice. II. Plaited by The Crown Princess of Prussia (our own dear Princess Royal) on the birth of her son, and presented to the late Duchess of Kent [1786-1861, Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld], on her birthday [17 August].'
Sold for £420
Condition Report
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A fine 19th-century Victorian period scrap album compiled by Eliza-Maria Gray. To include a page featuring attributed plaited hairwork made by Queen Victoria and her daughter Victoria, Princess Royal (later Crown Princess of Prussia). The first plait by Queen Victoria from the blonde hair of her daughter Princess Beatrice (1857-1944), with some dyed pink and tessellated into alternating pink and white triangles (3cm in length). The other two plats similarly plaited with natural fair hair only, by Victoria, Princess Royal (1840-1901), from the hair of her eldest son Wilhelm II (1859-1941), measuring 3 cm and 6 cm respectively. The album leaf with a contemporary ink identification to the head of the page. The remaining album contains various calligraphical quotes, poems (after Byron, Tennyson, Shakespeare, etc.), engravings, prints and several original drawings and watercolours, hand-cut paper flowers, pressed leaves (inc. from Agra, India) as well as various royal and aristocratic seals, including Queen Victoria, the King & Crown Prince of Russia, and several other royal prince and princesses, dukes and duchesses etc. Approximately seventy leaves in total, all gilt edges with gilt-decorated morocco covers and back strip (detached but present) 30cm x 24 cm.
See provenance note below
