Will Carr, Consort to
the Master of the Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers, kindly organised a visit to the
above exhibition, commemorating the 400th anniversary of the first
Royal Charter by King James I. Curator
Dr Karen Watts was our extremely knowledgeable guide who took us on a
whistle-stop tour of the prime exhibits, after which we were able to wander at
our leisure. Items had been loaned from
a variety of organisations, including other livery companies, Mansion House, St
Paul’s Cathedral and the Royal School of Needlework.
The Fishmongers’ Pall
was a particularly fine example of the famed uniquely English style of
embroidery known as opus anglicanum, with elaborate imagery. This was used to cover coffins of
distinguished liverymen. One
particularly beautiful feature was a mermaid looking at her reflection in a
mirror.
Gold and silver wire
decoration was so admired over the centuries that it was preserved, re-used and
recycled. One such example was the
Bacton Altar Cloth, made from the only surviving dress of Queen Elizabeth I (of
over 1,000!). After this exhibition this
item will be put in storage so we were very privileged to see it.
The section on royal
regalia and civic ceremonies was most impressive and included Queen Mary’s
Coronation dress, the single glove from Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation, with
which she held the sceptre, denoting power, but held gently in a gloved hand,
and a more modern state dress of a trumpeter at King Charles III’s
coronation. This used the most gold
braid of any uniform.
A Royal Dresser had
assisted in the setting up of the exhibition, particularly with reference to
robes relating to the Noble Orders. Also
featured was the one suit ever possessed (and worn) by Charles Dickens, for a
royal soiree, completed with ceremonial sword.
Liveryman Mark Dickens, Charles’ great-great-grandson, was pleased to
view this.
Also featured was a gown worn by former Lord Mayors, and
current Consort Gunmaker Rosemary McBeath, grand-daughter of a former mayor,
was thrilled to spot that.
A more up to date item
was the racing silk worn by Royal Jockey Tom Marquand when he won the King
George V Stakes at Royal Ascot earlier this year.
Among the items loaned
from St Paul’s Cathedral was the Wardour Chasuble from the 19th
Century but which incorporated older Flemish gold work, and the Jubilee Cope
made for the Dean in 1977, featuring depictions of the spires of 73 churches
within the Diocese of London, alongside three Royal Peculiers and (of course)
St Paul’s Cathedral.
There were also items from the Performing Arts and the
Military, and some contemporary examples.
This is an amazing
exhibition depicting outstanding craftsmanship down the ages, and well worth
detailed examination.
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