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Freedom Box

1808-09 (made)
Artist/Maker
Strachan, Alexander James (maker)
Place of origin
London (marked)

In England, the 'freedom of a city' is traditionally bestowed upon those who are recognised for their services to the city and its citizens. In 1809, the City of London awarded this box (to the value of 100 guineas) to Member of Parliament Gwyllim Lloyd Wardle. The City wished to recognise his fight, despite 'ministerial threats', against Prince Frederick, the Duke of York and his sale of army commissions through his mistress, Mary Anne Clark. Wardle was rewarded for his 'zeal, intrepidity and patriotism', though his reputation was subsequently damaged by counter-charges.

Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996.


Object details

Object type
Freedom box
Materials and techniques
Chased, engine-turned and matted varicoloured gold
Gold
Chased
Engine-Turning
Matting
Brief description
Varicoloured-gold freedom box; Alexander James Strachan, London, 1808-09
Physical description
A rectangular varicoloured gold freedom box, the cover chased in relief with the arms, crest, motto, 'DOMINE DIRIGE NOS'
Dimensions
  • Width: 8.8cm
  • Height: 6.5cm
  • Depth: 2.9cm
Measured 01/02/24 IW
Marks and inscriptions
DOMINE DIRIGE NOS
Gallery label
6. Freedom box, 1808–09 Museum no. Loan:Gilbert.454-2008(16/11/2016)
Credit line
The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Object history
Provenance: D. S. Lavender, London.
Summary
In England, the 'freedom of a city' is traditionally bestowed upon those who are recognised for their services to the city and its citizens. In 1809, the City of London awarded this box (to the value of 100 guineas) to Member of Parliament Gwyllim Lloyd Wardle. The City wished to recognise his fight, despite 'ministerial threats', against Prince Frederick, the Duke of York and his sale of army commissions through his mistress, Mary Anne Clark. Wardle was rewarded for his 'zeal, intrepidity and patriotism', though his reputation was subsequently damaged by counter-charges.

Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996.
Bibliographic references
  • Habsburg-Lothringen, Géza von. Gold boxes from the collection of Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert. R. & A. Gilbert, 1983. 125 p., ill. Cat. no. 29, p. 64. ISBN. 0961039809.
  • Truman, Charles.The Gilbert collection of gold boxes, Vol. I. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1991, cat. no. 116, pp. 330-1. ISBN.0875871623
  • Schroder, Timothy, ed. The Gilbert Collection at the V&A. London (V&A Publishing) 2009, pl. 48, p. 63. ISBN9781851775934
  • Minter, Alice et al. Masterpieces in Miniature: Treasures from the Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection. London: V&A Publishing, 2021, p.56, cat.31
Other numbers
  • GB 71 - Arthur Gilbert Number
  • 1996.425 - The Gilbert Collection, Somerset House
Collection
Metalwork Collection
Accession number
LOAN:GILBERT.454-2008

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Record createdJune 19, 2008
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O156482/freedom-box-strachan-alexander-james/
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