The King’s Plate.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIX, Issue VI, 9 August 1902, Page 379

The King’s Plate.

A COLLECTION WORTH AT LEAST A MILLION AND A HALF, DESCRIBED BY MARY SPENCER WARREN.

The massive service of gold plate at Windsor Castle is spoken of with bated breath by thousands, and its beauty and worth universally extolled, the latter indeed being appraised at fabulous sums.

Still, its intrinsic value—one and a half million sterling—is sufficiently stupendous to the ordinary mind. Many persons might indignantly exelaim if told that the famous services are not gold at all; yet the assertion is literally true, for the main portion of the collection is composed of silver-gilt only. The pieces of pure gold are few and far between, the major portion of such being of modern manufacture; while the silver-gilt and silver is spread over a period of between four and five hundred years. For beauty of design and execution one cannot but accord the palm to the early artists, many of whom indeed devoted long years of patient work to the fashioning and embellishing of one article. WHERE THE PLATE IS KEPT. The Royal plate is kept at the old Castle in two small rooms, or pantries, which are seeemingly part and parcel of the massive stone wall in which they are constructed. These rooms are fitted with airtight cases of mahogany and glass, containing numerous shelves, and plate-glass counter cases, the whole collection being in the charge of a functionary known as the Yeoman of the King’s Plate. It is not possible here to go into the history of the various pieces, interesting though it might be both as to former ownership and workmanship; one can only mention the celebrated Nautilus cap, attributed by many to Benvenuto Cellini, the rarely artistic silver rosewater fountain designed by the late Prince Consort, the punch-bowl and vase by Flaxman, and the celebrated Em-

peror’s services, never used except at a State banquet to a crowned head. THE EMPEROR’S SERVICE. This service well illustrates the fallacy of the Windsor plate being made of pure gold, for weighty as is silver-gilt, the pure gold would be much more so. In fact, such a service would be all but useless; for when one goes into the question, it is found that one man cannot carry more than three dishes of the Emperor’s service at one time, while some of its epergnes must be moved by the concerted action of several men, as must also the great candelabra; and these latter if in pure gold would be quite unmovable. Literally speaking, the removal of this entire service to London would necessitate a special train. And this brings to my mind that when there is a State concert or ball at Buckingham Palace as much as five tons of plate is brought from Windsor for the occasion.

How this is conveyed has often been a disputed question, but it is really taken in vans which were specially constructed for the purpose. They are of course strongly built, and are metal-lined throughout.

In former days these vans came all the way by road, but they are now placed upon railway trucks, which are met at this end of the line by horses from the Royal Mews, each van being drawn by a pair. HOW IT IS BROUGHT TO TOWN. Needless to say, the plate is vigilantly and strongly guarded from beginning to end of the journey, but no one yet has ever been daring enough to attempt to steal it; although it must be confessed that the time of transit is always a profound secret except to those most intimately concerned, who are all of course, beyond suspicion.

When the Court is in residence at Windsor very much of the plate is in daily use, but is always taken back to the pantries after each meal. The collection embraces nearly everything that one can think of which can be brought into table and even toilet use, for under the latter heading one may see a complete service, including a beautiful mirror, which was made for Queen Mary, and used for many years by the late Queen Victoria.

For table use there are not only several complete dinner services, including epergnes, salvers, etc., but there are also exquisite little breakfast services, tea-caddies, and kettles. Some of the pieces which were modelled during the reign of the late Queen carry faithful relief representations of favourite horses and dogs, and are further adorned with emblematical figures, etc. Then there is more than one costly Communion Service, and several pieces of furniture of massive silver, and in the same material some beautiful Chinese models of the tea tree.

Perhaps the famous tiger’s head, one of nine, which ornamented the famous jewelled throne of Tippoo Sahib, is the most costly and wonderful piece of plate in the possession of 1 is Majesty. The head is life-sized, and is formed by massive plates of solid gold laid over carved wood. The teeth and eyes are of rockcrystal. the tongue and the two huge paws on which the head rests are also of pure unalloyed gold. The tongue at one period carried one of the finest rubies in the world, lint this was long since removed. This same throne at one time carried a golden umbrella at its uunirU,

this being in turn surmounted by a superb peacock, and this peacock is also the property of King Edward. The body of the bird is of gold, magnificently set with uncut stones of prodigious value.

One immense emerald forms the beak, with a drop composed of a ruby and three pearls. I may say that the two last-named articles, though brought into occasional use. are not reckoned as a part of the Royal plate, therefore the value as given at the head of this paper must be taken as separate and distinct; truly it is a wonderful and surprising collection, one which it would be difficult to surpass either for beauty, worth, or associations.

Even the portion which is brought to Buckingham Palace for the special Royal entertainments makes up a dazzling and effective display which, when seen under the electric rays, cannot easily be forgotten. o o o o o