THE CORONATION

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 158, 20 June 1911, Page 11

THE CORONATION

CORONATION SPOON AND KING’S LETTER.

To mark Coronation week in Hastings, Mr. J. W. Bates, chemist. of Hastings, displays in his window a lac-simile of King George the Fifth's letter to his people on the occasion of his coronation ; and also a fac-simile of the historic coronation spoon. The spoon is of silver gilt and is thought to date from the 12th century. It is Winches in length. The handle is ornamented with champleve scroll work and some pearls, anti the bowl is divided by a ridge down the centre. At the coronation the Archbishop uses this spoon to dip his lingers in for the anointing. THE REGALIA OF THE CORONATION. THE CROWN.

The official crown of England, which always appears at the Coro nation and will do so oii this occasion, was made by Sir Robert Vyner, Royal Goldsmith to King Charles the Second, after the pattern of an earlier crown which was destroyed under the Commonwealth in ItMB, when Charles the First was beheaded. It is a circlet of gold bordered with pearls and studded with oval jewelled clusters from the upper edge of which rise four crosses-patees and four fleurs dc-lys alternately, all thickly jewelled. From the tops of the four crosses-patees spring two flat arches of gold edged with pearls, and set with rectangular clusters of gems; these arches dip deeply at the poin of intersection, and in the depression thus formed there is a sphere of gold with jewelled band and arch, having at the top a jewelled Maltese cross, pointed at each of its upper extremities with a large pearl. THE ORB OR MOUND Surmounted by a cross is the emblem of the domination of the Christian religion over the world. It is carried in the right hand of the Monarch at a particular stage of the Coronation ceremony. It is only carried by a King or a Queen regnant. The Orb may be seen on the great seals of all England’s sovereigns since Edward the Confessor. THE SCEPTRE.

There are only two kinds- the sceptre wjth a cross at the top and the sceptre with a dove. The Royal Sceptre with the cross is a rod of gold measuring 2ft 9]in in length, the upper part of which is wreathed. The handle is richly ornamented with gold open work studded with jewels and enamel work, and the head is decoratively expandect into a form somewhat resembling a crown with arches anti scrolls of gold richly enamelled and jewelled. On this superstructure rests a large faceted spherical amethyst with jewelled band and arch, carrying a Maltese cross, covered with diamonds. It was made for Charles the Second, but has since been much altered and enriched. This will be used by the King at the Coronation.

The sceptre with the dove was also made for Charles the Second, and is of gold with jewelled and enamelled knobs of delicate and beautiful workmanship. It measures 3ft 7in in length. At the top is a sphere with jewelled hand and arch supporting a small cross on which rests a white enamelled dove with out-spread wings.

THE GREAT SWORD OF STATE Has a velvet scabbard ornamented with national heraldic badges and designs in bosses of metal-work and quillions in the shape of a lion and a unicorn. It is borne by the President of the Council at the Coronation. ST. GEORGE’S SPURS

were made for Charles the Second. They are of the ‘’prick’’ pattern, and are richly wrought in gold. Lord Hastings and Lord Grey de Ruthyn claim to cany them at the Corfonation.

THE BRACELETS are of gold, and may be the same as were made originally for Charles the Second, but if so they have been considerably worked upon since. They are C inches broad. 2| inches in diameter, and they have the national badges the Rose. Harp. Shamrock. and Thistle - enamelled in colours upon them.

THE GOLDEN EAGLE. or Ampulla, i* said to l»c the same as was used for containing the sacred cream at the coronation of Henry the Fourth. There is n<>« little left, however, of rhe ancient work, except perhaps thrs<rew at the neck. The bird has been provided with new wings, feet, and pedestal, probably by Sir Robert Vyner. anti it has Lien newly <Lr.cd all over. It was preserved from destruction in the 17th century by being kept in Westminster Abbey.

jlt measures about 9 inches in i height. I The value of the regalia exceeds ; £3,000,000.