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Plate - Queen Victoria; Jubilee

Queen Victoria; Jubilee

  • Object:

    Plate

  • Place of origin:

    Gateshead, England (made)

  • Date:

    ca. 1887 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Sowerby Ellison Glassworks (manufacturer)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Press-moulded glass

  • Museum number:

    CIRC.716-1966

  • Gallery location:

    British Galleries, room 123, case 1

  • Image in copyright

Object Type
A vast array of royal commemorative objects was made on the occasion of Queen Victoria's Jubilee in 1887. Inexpensive press-moulded glass, such as this example, was typically used to produce popular royal souvenirs.

Historical Associations
Following the death of Prince Albert in 1861, Queen Victoria shunned public life to a great extent. She never again lived in London and occupied Buckingham Palace only for occasional visits lasting a few days. However, the 50th anniversary of her accession to the throne in 1887 was marked with great celebration, and the Queen was cheered by hundreds of thousands of her subjects as she travelled to a special service at Westminster Abbey. The public enthusiasm for the Jubilee resulted in the production of an enormous range of souvenirs, such as this plate. In subsequent years, the Queen was encouraged to make more frequent public appearances.

Physical description

Queen Victoria is in the centre of the plate, with the inscription '1887 YEAR OF JUBILEE' towards the outer rim.

Place of Origin

Gateshead, England (made)

Date

ca. 1887 (made)

Artist/maker

Sowerby Ellison Glassworks (manufacturer)

Materials and Techniques

Press-moulded glass

Dimensions

Height: 2.6 cm, Diameter: 25.4 cm

Object history note

Made by Sowerby & Co., Ellison Glass Works, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear

Descriptive line

Plate, England (Gateshead-on-Tyne), made by Sowerby's Ellison Glass Works Ltd., 1887-1900

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

B. Morris, Victorian Table Glass and Ornaments, London 1978; pl.140

Labels and date

Commemorating Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee in 1887.
British Galleries:
This type of ornamental glass with moulded decoration was cheap and thus available to a large number of people. Press-moulded glass was a perfect medium for commemorative pieces. They could be produced quickly and in large quantities from a single mould. [27/03/2003]

Subjects depicted

Victoria, Queen

Categories

Glass; British Galleries; Royalty

Collection code

CER

Qr_O7147
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