Walter Graham Churcher (1859-1934) - Design for the Royal Pr...

Hammer

£600

Walter Graham Churcher (1859-1934) - Design for the Royal Presentation Steel and Gold Key of Chubb & Sons, Locksmiths, for the International Exhibition of Arts & Manufactures Dublin, pen, ink and gold, with illuminated inscription by another, signed H.S.B. and countersigned Prince of Wales [Albert Edward P; later King Edward VII], 27 x 18.5cm, in the original ornate Victorian gilt frame formally surmounted by the Royal Arms and sold with an autograph letter, signed, from General Sir William Knollys KCB PC (1797-1883), Treasurer and Comptroller to the Household of the Prince of Wales, Marlborough House, 16 June 1865, bifolium, two sides, in the third person "Lieut. General Knollys begs to acknowledge the receipt of Mr Chubb's letter of the ninth instant which he has laid before the Prince of Wales. His Royal Highness has been pleased under the circumstances to depart from his usual rule, and has affixed his autograph to the drawing of the steel master key which was presented to the Prince at the opening of the Dublin Exhibition in May last "with autograph envelope 'Mr Chubb 57 St Paul's Church Yard EC'"

Literature: Chubb (George Hayter) & Walter G Churcher, The House of Chubb 1818-1918 "The production of ornamental metalwork by Chubb has extended over a long period... Among other interesting indications of Chubb's participation in the provision of ceremonial... keys are a series of designs for presentation keys prepared for opening ceremonies in connection with... exhibitions, and bearing the signs manual of the exalted personages associated with their inauguration. Two of the most important are the representation of the elaborate wrought steel key used by her late Majesty, Queen Victoria, in opening the International Exhibition of 1862 in London, and that with which the late King Edward, as Prince of Wales, inaugurated the Dublin Exhibition of 1865... Both keys were fine examples of hand-wrought steel, and by reason of the laborious work involved, as costly as many latterly made in precious metals... These drawings by Mr Walter G Churcher are highly finished in colour on vellum in the manner of a miniature painting."