QUEEN’S VASE PRESENTED

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27403, 16 July 1954, Page 3

QUEEN’S VASE PRESENTED

Tribute By British Potters COMMONWEALTH UNITY SYMBOLISED [N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, July 14. A 10-sided vase topped by a crown was presented to the Queen at Buckingham Palace today to commemorate the Coronation and to symbolise the unity of the Commonwealth. Known as the Queen’s Vase, it was handed to the Queen as a tribute from the British Pottery Manufacturers’ Federation. Reproduced on the vase, said to be one of the most complicated pieces of bone china ever created, were the Royal Coat of Arms, the Royal Standard, and floral emblems of the four Mother Countries, the Commonwealth countries and the Republic of India. These include the maple leaf of Canada, the Australian wattle, the New Zealand fern, the protea of South Africa, the Indian lotus, the Pakistan Arms of State and the lotus of Ceylon. The name of each country is printed on a tablet below each emblem. India was described as a republic to mark its special status as a member of the Commonwealth. Pottery craftsmen and artists pledged to secrecy about the gift to the Queen have worked to a design produced before the Coronation. Tile design was outlined by 75-year-old Mr John Wadsworth, doyen of British pottery designers. Between 40 and 50 colours were used. The vase is 26£in high with ah extreme width of UJin without its base of Australian black bean wood. It weighs 201 b. Eleven copies of the Queen’s Vase adopted for each Commonwealth country and the four Mother countries will be presented by the Duchess of Gloucester on July 20 to the Commonwealth High Commissioners and representatives of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. The Queen’s Vase will' be kept at Windsor Castle. The presentation to the Queen was made in private by members of the British Pottery Manufacturers’ Federation.