Queen Victoria's Teeth

Bought at auction last week …

A rather large print of Queen Victoria.  As I carried her into the house, little man piped up “she’s not very pretty is she?”. 

I guess not, but I rather like her.  Originally intended for sale, she is going to stay for a while and may go up on the wall on our landing when we finish decorating (we’ve been decorating the stairs and landing on and off for three years now!!)  She needs a good clean but I think she’s rather lovely.  Mr isn’t so sure about her looking on disapprovingly as he gets dressed in the morning …

Little man also commented “that she couldn’t have been a very good Queen because she had a very small crown!”. 

Following the death of her beloved Prince Albert in 1861 at the age of just 42, Queen Victoria sank into a deeply depressed state and withdrew from public life, wearing widow’s weeds until her death.  She returned to public life in 1870 but chose not to wear the imperial State Crown as she found it too large and heavy and it did not sit well on top of her mourning veil.  Instead she commissioned a miniature diamond encrusted crown from Garrard & Co.  Diamonds were an acceptable gem to wear during a period of mourning and the crown was set with 1187 of them.  The crown measures just 9cm (3 ½ inches) across and weighs just 6 ounces.  She continued to wear the little crown for all state duties.

Following her death at the age of 82, the small diamond crown was placed on her coffin for the State Funeral.  Since Queen Elizabeth II chose not to wear it, the crown was placed in the Tower of London’s Jewel House in 1937 where it remains on show today.

As well as the more traditional royal jewellery, Queen Victoria wore, in private, some rather more unconventional pieces.  Hair, animal parts, claws and teeth were popular jewellery decorations in Victorian times.  Victoria made several items of jewellery herself from her own hair including a bracelet for her governess and even had some pebbles, picked up by Albert from a Scottish beach, set into silver.  

 

One of the stranger pieces she had made was this gold and enamel brooch in the shape of a thistle with a tooth forming the flower head.  The tooth was the first milk tooth lost by Princess Victoria (known as Vicky), the eldest of their nine much adored children.

Another rather macabre piece is this gold and enamel necklace set with 44 stags teeth.  It was given to Victoria by Prince Albert as a macho display of love and passion.  All of the teeth are from stags hunted by Albert on the Balmoral estate.  Each tooth is engraved with the date the animal was killed and the clasp bears the inscription ‘all shot by Albert’.

A ‘pretty’ brooch featuring more teeth!

A pair of ‘trophy’ earrings.
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I also received a lovely surprise package from Liz of 'Shortbread and Ginger' last week.  Just look at all the lovely goodies that arrived, beautifully wrapped in tissue with pretty lacy tape.  Two Ladybird books to add to my collection, a gorgeous hand knitted cosy, Scottish rock, a drinks mat (perfect for my cuppa at work) and a lovely card.  Thank you so much Liz (hope you don't mind me showing the world!).  What a lovely place the blogging world is ...