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HB6 - Queen Victoria Stationary/Writing Desk
Born: May 24, 1819, Died: January 22, 1901 Queen Victoria Reign: June 20, 1837 - January 22, 1901
The young Princess Alexandria Victoria of Kent was born in Kensington Palace London, England on May 24, 1819 to Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn and Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. Within a year, her father would die of pneumonia leaving her mother an extremely protective overseer with the help of her comptroller, John Conroy. Victoria would become the heir presumptive to the constitutional monarchy of the United Kingdom when her uncle, her father's brother King William IV, died on June 20, 1837, and left young 18 year old Victoria the next in accession to the throne and Queen of Great Britain and Ireland. Upon her rise to the Queen, Victoria chose to drop her first name and forever be known as Queen Victoria. She would become a Queen of her people, Grandmother of Europe, and an influential woman of her time. At the time of her death, she had the longest reign of 63 years, seven months, and two days. The period in which she lived is now known as the Victorian era throughout the world.
Pen Tray & Ink Wells
The period desk has a wonderful, full-length pen and ink well tray discreetly placed on the outer right hand lower side of the desk that can be removed. The tray has two fitted crystal ink wells with brass screw tops. On both caps is a royal crown surrounded by laurel wreaths. The tray is missing the pens. Also inside the tray are a few small trinkets including a silver locket, a Queen Victoria royal cypher monogram badge and a four-generation accession souvenir medallion.
Above - closeup of desk's front panel
Coat of arms of the
United Kingdom (1837-1952)
Adopted by Queen Victoria in 1837 and subsequently used by Her Majesty, King Edward VII, George V, Edward VIII and George VI.
Queen Victoria Owned
Brass Candle Sticks
& Covered Glass Box
Here are two brass mid-19th century heavy candlesticks that are marked with the Queens royal cypher ‘VR’ (Victoria Regina) The taller of the two, is wonderfully incised with an additional crown and inventory number. The shorter holder is stamped with a simple cypher on the underside. The beautiful small, covered box is made of clear pressed glass. There are no markers and would have been used for small implements.
The Queen's Husband - Albert, Prince Consort (26 August 1819 - 14 December 1861)
Victoria first met her cousin, Albert, on a invitation from Victoria's mother who was Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld of Germany, on May 1836. Upon first seeing her cousin, Victoria was smitten by his intelligence and handsome appearance. After a second visit in October of 1839, the feelings that Victoria first felt were now mutual between the two of them and on 15 October 1839 Victoria proposed to Albert and he accepted. The two cousins were married on 10 February 1840. The married pair would go on to have nine children altogether. Albert became everything to Victoria. Albert was entrusted with running the Queen's household, office, and estates along as being her confidant and lover. Albert would die at the very young age of 42 in 1861 leaving Victoria distraught with nine children and an empire to run. After Albert's death, Victoria went into a deep depression and mourned her loss for the rest of her life.
For the rest of her life, Victoria wore black and honored her husband through memorials and reverence until the day she died.
Busts of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert Consort
Above atop the desk are two period chalk busts of an aged Queen Victoria and a younger Prince Albert. These busts were offered as souvenirs and mementos for the public. Under the bust of Victoria is an embossed copper picture in the oval wooden frame of Victoria during the period of her diamond jubilee. Under the bust of Prince Albert is a heavy bronze medallion paper weight of Albert. Also on top of the desk is the original key with tassel for the front panel of the desk.
The Contents Inside the Desk
The desk was designed to be transportable and compact but large enough to hold a variety of implements for writing, filling and storing. The queen had five primary residences, Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Osborne House on the Isle of Wight, where she dies, Holyrood House in Edinburgh, Scotland, and Balmoral Castle in the Scottish Highlands. The Queen having a portable desk was a necessity for execution of her official daily duties. The contents of the desk are a collection of mementos and souvenirs that I have collected throughout the years. Some of the items that can be seen in the photographs below, excluding the items I have already detailed above, include thermoplastic case with strand of the Queen's hair in glass casket box, large signature of Queen, memorial cards of Queen and son, a dress or overcoat fragment piece, thermoplastic handle for cane or umbrella and a grouping of period CVD photographs of the Queen and Prince. The Queen was a very prolific writer of letters, diaries, official state records, inter-residence notes and cards. The desk was one of the Queens most valued tools and having one that was portable was paramount.
Queen Victoria Hair Strand
One of the highlights of the collection is a certified original hair strand of Queen Victoria. The single strand is protected under glass in a period mid-Victorian thermoplastic case, made from a composition of shellac and sawdust compressed under pressure in molds, with a hinged floral cover. Along with the hair strand is a closeup photograph of Queen. surrounded by a gold metal border. The case sits on a tuft of fabric encased in a clear glass box with a hinged lid for added protection.
Right:
Queen Victoria
Clothing
Fragment
This is a fragment of Queen Victoria's clothing either from a dress, cloak or cape. It was purposely cut and given by the Queen for charity as stated on the attached period tag. The heavy fur-like brown cloth is approximately 3 1/2" long, triangle shape with a hand embroidered flower.
Queen Victoria's Signature
This is a very large, dated clipped original ink signature by the queen herself. For size comparison, view the photograph above of the signature resting on the writing slope. Because of its size, this may be clipped from an official document and not, for example, a correspondence letter. Dated 27, October 1866. this signature is from her mourning period just 5 years after her husband's death. It was the first year after his death that she appeared and opened Parliament. It was also the year that she developed a special relationship with her Scottish servant of her household named John Brown. Victoria came to look upon him not so much as a servant but as a close friend and personal attendant . The Queen adored Mr. Brown and gave him control of her household, including unique access to her. John Brown would perform many of the needs that Prince Albert used to do. John Brown died abruptly in the service of the Queen at Windsor Castle on 27 March 1883 at the young age of 56.
Memorial Cards
Below are two mourning cards. On the left, a card for Queen Victoria's son King Edward the VII, and on the right, a memoriam card for Queen Victoria upon her death. At the time, Victoria had the longest reign of 63 years and 216 days. Her son and successor Edward VII had a much shorter reign, in comparison, of 9 years, 3 months, 12 days.
The Most Photographed and Imaged Woman of Her Time
When Queen Victoria came to the thrown in 1837, she was, at that point, the most drawn and painted woman. At the beginning of her reign, photography was in its infancy. Throughout her life, she would pose for portraits with her husband and family. These photos were intended for her, her family, and close inner circle of friends, to enjoy only. Victoria and Albert also enjoyed collecting and compiling photographs. They would spend hours filling up scrap books and enjoy viewing them during their private moments alone at night.
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