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Michael Pashby Antiques
A Fine Christopher Dresser-Designed Silver Plated Picnic Set with Royal Provenance
England
circa 1879
A fine Christopher Dresser picnic tea set for Hukin & Heath, engraved for Princess Helena.
Kettle: 6.5 W, 4.75 D, 6 H (inches) Teapot: 7 W, 3.5 D, 3.5 H (inches) Milk Jar: 3 W, 2 D, 2.125 H (inches) Sugar Bowl: 3.25 W, 2.5 H (inches)
description
This fine electroplated silver set includes a teapot, hot water pot, milk jug and sugar basin, along with a folding tripod kettle stand and its petrol stand, used to heat it. The elements designed so that they will either fold, in the case of the stand, or stack inside of each other for ease of transport, the over-designed nature of the set entirely typical of the attention to detail of Dr Christopher Dresser who designed this pattern for the fine manufacturers Hukin and Heath Ltd of Birmingham. What makes this set particularly special is that all of the vessels are engraved with the monogram of Princess Helena, 3rd daughter of Queen Victoria, who owned the these fine pieces.
Princess Helena's life was turned upside down by the death of her father in 1861. Her carefree childhood had come to an abrupt halt and she became, to all intents and purposes, her mother's unpaid secretary, expected to be on hand at all times. She married Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein in 1866 and the marriage was especially engineered by the Queen for rather selfish reasons. Prince Christian was believed to be the poorest of the eligible nobles in Europe, thus ensuring that should he marry Helena, he would move to England to be with her as he would have been unable to afford to support his new wife living in his own country. In this respect, the Queen was able to ensure that her daughter remained close at hand and supported her throughout the rest of her life. The couple were given grace and favour accommodation near to the Queen in Windsor Great Park, surrounding Windsor Castle, and Helena remained ever the reliable and dutiful daughter. It is therefore entirely possible that this fine picnic set might have been used by Helena and her mother on occasion. Princess Helena was a staunchly charitable lady. A founder member of the British Red Cross and a vocal advocate for better standards in nursing practice. She was also a keen needlewoman and the first president of the Royal School of Needlework, an organisation which survives to this day and continues to produce exceptional work.
Helena and Prince Christian may have had an arranged marriage but despite the union being somewhat one of convenience, they seem to have cared deeply for each other and the love between the couple was real and heartfelt on both sides. They remained married for just over 50 years until Christian's death. Helena was highly artistically talented and so perhaps she saw in the designs of Christopher Dresser something of her own creative energies reflected back at her. She was also an extremely gifted singer and pianist and given the extent of her social circle, which included musical superstars such as the likes of Jenny Lind, one wonders who amongst her friends might have been treated to a picnic using the present set.
It is interesting to note the relative informality of the style of the cypher used on the present set, illustrating all the more clearly that this set was intended for deeply private and personal use. Compare the cypher used on the picnic set, with Helena's entire name spelt out, to the joint cypher used by Helena and Christian, and the casual and informal playfulness seen on the present set shows an entirely different side of the princess's persona, not something that would have been on display to the general public.
Christopher Dresser and Hukin and Heath:
One of the most important figures in later 19th century British design, Dresser was a pivotal figure in the so-called aesthetic movement, designing in a large variety of media and for a number of prominent manufacturers. One of the most famous of all of these firms was the silversmiths of Hukin and Heath of Birmingham. Founded by Jonathan Wilson Hukin and John Thomas Heath in 1855, the firm opened London premises in 1879 and it was at this point that they began their collaboration with Dresser. The present set is likely to date from 1879-1880, right at the beginning of this relationship which was to prove profitable and artistically fruitful for both parties. Indeed so successful were some of Dresser's metalware designs that they are still in production today, although Hukin and Heath are no longer in existence to manufacture them and the trademarks have passed in to other hands.
Princess Helena's life was turned upside down by the death of her father in 1861. Her carefree childhood had come to an abrupt halt and she became, to all intents and purposes, her mother's unpaid secretary, expected to be on hand at all times. She married Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein in 1866 and the marriage was especially engineered by the Queen for rather selfish reasons. Prince Christian was believed to be the poorest of the eligible nobles in Europe, thus ensuring that should he marry Helena, he would move to England to be with her as he would have been unable to afford to support his new wife living in his own country. In this respect, the Queen was able to ensure that her daughter remained close at hand and supported her throughout the rest of her life. The couple were given grace and favour accommodation near to the Queen in Windsor Great Park, surrounding Windsor Castle, and Helena remained ever the reliable and dutiful daughter. It is therefore entirely possible that this fine picnic set might have been used by Helena and her mother on occasion. Princess Helena was a staunchly charitable lady. A founder member of the British Red Cross and a vocal advocate for better standards in nursing practice. She was also a keen needlewoman and the first president of the Royal School of Needlework, an organisation which survives to this day and continues to produce exceptional work.
Helena and Prince Christian may have had an arranged marriage but despite the union being somewhat one of convenience, they seem to have cared deeply for each other and the love between the couple was real and heartfelt on both sides. They remained married for just over 50 years until Christian's death. Helena was highly artistically talented and so perhaps she saw in the designs of Christopher Dresser something of her own creative energies reflected back at her. She was also an extremely gifted singer and pianist and given the extent of her social circle, which included musical superstars such as the likes of Jenny Lind, one wonders who amongst her friends might have been treated to a picnic using the present set.
It is interesting to note the relative informality of the style of the cypher used on the present set, illustrating all the more clearly that this set was intended for deeply private and personal use. Compare the cypher used on the picnic set, with Helena's entire name spelt out, to the joint cypher used by Helena and Christian, and the casual and informal playfulness seen on the present set shows an entirely different side of the princess's persona, not something that would have been on display to the general public.
Christopher Dresser and Hukin and Heath:
One of the most important figures in later 19th century British design, Dresser was a pivotal figure in the so-called aesthetic movement, designing in a large variety of media and for a number of prominent manufacturers. One of the most famous of all of these firms was the silversmiths of Hukin and Heath of Birmingham. Founded by Jonathan Wilson Hukin and John Thomas Heath in 1855, the firm opened London premises in 1879 and it was at this point that they began their collaboration with Dresser. The present set is likely to date from 1879-1880, right at the beginning of this relationship which was to prove profitable and artistically fruitful for both parties. Indeed so successful were some of Dresser's metalware designs that they are still in production today, although Hukin and Heath are no longer in existence to manufacture them and the trademarks have passed in to other hands.
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