Not currently on display at the V&A

The Royal Wedding Charger

Rocking Horse
1981 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The Royal Charger was made in 1981 as a unique souvenir of the wedding of the Prince and Princess of Wales (Charles and Diana) at St. Paul's Cathedral on July 29th, 1981. It is hand carved in wood and hand painted. It was commissioned by the department store Heal's of Tottenham Court Road, London. However, it was liked so much that Mr Oliver Heal decided that it should be given to the Museum of Childhood.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleThe Royal Wedding Charger (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Wood, rope, beads, shells and lace
Brief description
Wooden artist's toy, The Royal Wedding Charger, made in England by Maggie Wareham in 1981
Physical description
The horse is in the form of a rocking horse with solid rockers, partly carved, with the body and legs divided by a black line from the rest of the rockers. The head is varnished to show wood grain, overpainted with red, white, blue, black and tan to show facial features, mane and star decorations. The inner ears, mane and body are painted tan, the hooves black. The body is also painted with red and purple stars. The mane is teased rope decorated with red, white and blue beads on string. Between the ears are red and black feathers. The rope is fixed into a run of four holes down the neck. The tail is teased rope, fixed into a hole in the back.
Dimensions
  • Length: 50.8cm
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
Maggie LONDON 1981
Credit line
Given by Mr Oliver Heal
Object history
The Charger was commissioned by Heal's of Tottenham Court Road, London, from Maggie Wareham in order to commemorate the Royal wedding in 1981. Maggie Wareham specialised in hand carved toy and had made a number of original toys which were priced at about £500. The charger was presented to the then head of Bethnal Green Museum, Mr Anthony Burton, at a press launch and photocall on July 17th, 1981. It was displayed at Heal's until July 24th, 1981
Summary
The Royal Charger was made in 1981 as a unique souvenir of the wedding of the Prince and Princess of Wales (Charles and Diana) at St. Paul's Cathedral on July 29th, 1981. It is hand carved in wood and hand painted. It was commissioned by the department store Heal's of Tottenham Court Road, London. However, it was liked so much that Mr Oliver Heal decided that it should be given to the Museum of Childhood.
Collection
Accession number
MISC.475-1981

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Record createdFebruary 2, 2004
Record URL
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