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Coburg Eagle brooch
Designed by: Prince Consort Albert (English, born in German, 1819–1861)
Fabricated by: Charles Augustus du Vé ((active in 1840))
Fabricated by: Charles Augustus du Vé ((active in 1840))
British
1840
Medium/Technique
Gold, turquoise, pearl, ruby, diamond
Dimensions
Length: 4.5 cm (1 3/4 in.)
Credit Line
Museum purchase with funds donated by the Rita J. and Stanley H. Kaplan Family Foundation
Accession Number2020.146
ClassificationsJewelry / Adornment – Brooches
On February 10, 1840, Queen Victoria married Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg Gotha. After the ceremony in Chapel Royal at St James's Palace, Victoria presented each of her twelve train-bearers (the aristocratic women who held the train of her dress) a brooch designed by Prince Albert—this eagle is one of the twelve that were presented by the new bride before the group returned to Buckingham Palace for the reception. The jewelry house of R. & S. Garrard arranged for the brooch to be fabricated by Charles Du Vé on Maddox Street in London, based on the Prince’s design. Each gold brooch is slightly different but features an eagle, the symbol of the House of Coburg, set with a turquoise body and outstretched wings, a diamond beak, and round ruby eyes, with pearls grasped tightly in its talons. Each material was selected for its symbolism: turquoise blue to evoke the color of forget-me-nots, rubies as symbols of passion, diamonds representing eternity, and pearls for true love. While royal bridesmaids typically received a gift, this design broke with tradition as the subject was usually a dove set with turquoise. This brooch is an outstanding example of the couple's love of jewelry and sentimentality.
Catalogue Raisonné
61
DescriptionGold eagle with outstretched wings. The body is made up of the finest “robin’s egg blue” turquoise. The bird, has ruby eyes and clasps a diamond in its beak. In each of his talons it claps a pearl. The materials were chosen for their sentimentality – blue for forget-me-nots, red rubies for passion, diamonds as a symbol of eternity, and pearls to represent true love. A break with tradition, usually a dove of Venus is awarded to the wedding party, the Coburg Eagle was chosen to honor the bridegroom’s family.
This brooch is one of twelve presented by Queen Victoria to each of her train bearers on her wedding day, February 10, 1840. The Queen recalled in her diary entry from that day that the ornaments were given directly after the ceremony. She and Prince Albert presented the brooches to the bridesmaids before the wedding party moved from the church to Buckingham Palace.
Other examples exist in the Royal Trust Collection and in the British Museum Collection.
This brooch is one of twelve presented by Queen Victoria to each of her train bearers on her wedding day, February 10, 1840. The Queen recalled in her diary entry from that day that the ornaments were given directly after the ceremony. She and Prince Albert presented the brooches to the bridesmaids before the wedding party moved from the church to Buckingham Palace.
Other examples exist in the Royal Trust Collection and in the British Museum Collection.
ProvenanceFebruary 10, 1840, presented by Queen Victoria to one of the train-bearers at her wedding; 2019, purchased in England by Wartski Ltd., London, England; 2020, sold by Wartski Ltd. to the MFA. (Accession Date: February 26, 2020)