The jewels in the crown of royal memorabilia: from Wedgwood to Picasso

Kitsch mugs are out and thoughtful design is in, says Anya Cooklin-Lofting, who looks at classic commemorative pieces ahead of King Charles III’s coronation

Monday 01 May 2023 17:49 BST
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The Goldsmiths Company’s new coronation hallmark
The Goldsmiths Company’s new coronation hallmark (The Goldsmiths Company)

“On this momentous occasion of a new monarch’s coronation, many will want to buy something as a ‘souvenir’ to commemorate the event and provide a keepsake reminder of this time in their lives,” says Jo Lloyd, head of the Decorative Arts department at Roseberys Auction House, a London-based auctioneer with sales of antiques, art, furniture and more. She believes, though, that the younger generation no longer values the traditional, kitsch commemorative mugs that flooded the potteries over the 19th and 20th centuries at the mere whiff of a royal event. Instead, she says that collectors are on the hunt for meaningful items across a range of collecting categories.

“For example,” Lloyd continues, “Pablo Picasso designed a two-handled earthenware vase in a pairing called Le Roi et La Reine (The King and the Queen), in the 1950s.” Ceramics played a fundamental part in Picasso’s career, and his ceramic works are highly sought-after, “so these would be a topical, solid investment for a royal collection,” she says. “Around 1908, Pilkington Royal Lancastrian pottery produced a lustre-glazed vase depicting Saint George and the Dragon with the words ‘Saint George for England’,” Lloyd continues. “This antique piece would be a show-stopping object with a patriotic connection but would need a healthy budget. The vase sold at auction in 2021 for £75,000.”

Constance Spry Crown and Lion vase, sold at Roseberys for £5,200
Constance Spry Crown and Lion vase, sold at Roseberys for £5,200 (Constance Spry)

For more modest options, Lloyd suggests looking into collecting sub-categories like William De Morgan tiles with Tudor Rose patterns, “or a Liberty & Co coronation spoon designed by Archibald Knox – both names synonymous with the very best in British Design around the turn of the last century.”

While mass-produced, gaudy mugs and teacups depicting near caricatures of royals are “out” as far as collectors are concerned, there is still certainly an appetite for commemorative crockery of a more refined calibre. “Exceptions to the rule are the mugs produced by Wedgwood that were designed by Eric Ravilious, the British painter,” Lloyd says. His first commission for King Edward VIII, bearing the date 1938, was withdrawn following his abdication and was reworked for the coronation of King George VI. Then, in 1952, a new adaptation was made for Queen Elizabeth’s coronation. Lloyd says that “the Ravilious coronation mugs have a look that sits well within a modern interior and so remain popular”.

Wedgwood x Eric Ravilious mug, sold at Roseberys for £845
Wedgwood x Eric Ravilious mug, sold at Roseberys for £845 (Wedgwood)

As the world’s attention is turned to King Charles III’s coronation on Saturday 6 May, I have developed something of a fascination with royal memorabilia. From reading about those who purport to have the largest collections of royal bric-a-brac in the world to learning more about why the category can make for lucrative investments, there is so much we can derive about what people beyond the UK love about the royal family. Despite stories of British apathy towards the royals and the international fatigue for the indefatigable stories of royal family feuds, it seems that there is a keen market for royally associated collectibles.

For contemporary collectibles, look no further than the brand-new coronation hallmark, produced by The Goldsmiths’ Company, to celebrate the ascension of King Charles III to the throne. The limited-edition coronation hallmark is available to jewellers, silversmiths and retailers of gold and silver until December 2024. The mark – which depicts the King’s head against an oval background – was designed by Thomas Fattorini, designer-makers of emblematic jewellery, and is based on a medal design by Ian Rank-Broadley. Keep your eyes peeled for pieces of jewellery by your favourite makers that bear the mark. For example, Tateossian, the luxury jewellery company, has incorporated the coronation hallmark into its limited-edition collection of rhodium-plated silver cufflinks, bracelets, bangles and rings.

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