LONDON’S GOLD PLATE

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22496, 2 September 1938, Page 2

LONDON’S GOLD PLATE

VALUED POSSESSIONS CLEANING AND CHECKING CPBOM Oim OWN CORRESPONDENT.) LONDON, August 11. The whole world has heard of the most priceless gold plate, ornate and decorative, owned by Royal and other possessors, from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey and the City of London. On State occasions these historic show pieces dazzle by their brilliance, especially when placed with screened lights above and below, as on the altar in Westminster Abbey. It all has to be carefully tended, cleaned, and checked. In the “Evening Standard” ’ last night, “Corisande” gave some very interesting information about Buckingham Palace and its art treasures. They were shown to a few privileged visitors a few days ago. Of, the Royal gold plate, both State and private, she said: It fills the glass-fronted cupboards in a couple of good-sized rooms. Keeping it clean is an all-time job. Apart from the dinner service, used at State banquets, there are many intricate and elaborate centre-pieces, fruit dishes, and so forth. Some are made up of between 200 and 300 pieces, each of which has to be cleaned separately.

Four Months t to Check It Over . On the death-of the Sovereign, the items mV the.., State plate have to be Checked, ’ and a glorified inventory is ;made.v This checking business takes about four months to complete. Not all Royal owners have treated period pieces with the respect they deserve. For instance," Queen Anne had the Royal cypher A.R. inscribed across a fine seventeenth century rosewater laver. George 111 put his mark on the gold candlesticks, which were used on the altar in Westminster Abbey for the Coronation of the present King.

Pictures at the Palace All the gilt frames at Buckingham *?alace are similar (says “Corisande"), ind not only is the name of the artist on every frame of the huge collection, but the name of the Royal purchaser as well. The quality of the Dutch pictures in the collection proves that the First Gentleman in Europe had an unerring eye for a good painting as well as for feminine good looks. The name of George IV appears on many of these Dutch pictures. - The Prince Consort, too, was a good and discriminating buyer, and among the pictures at Buckingham Palace for which he was responsible is a particularly fine one of Rembrandt’s mother.