Mirror (frame) by Sebastian Garrard

[AG2012]

Dressing table facet mirror (or photo frame) with easel back by Sebastian Garrard.
Measures: 14.5``X 11``
Net silver weight: 15.3 oz./ 435gr
Fully hallmarked for London, dated 1915, maker's mark for Garrard & Co with the crown.
Painted enamel on silver coat of arms.
Well known:
1843 Queen Victoria bestowed upon the firm the title of Crown Jewelers.
2007 Buckingham Palace announces that Garrard is no longer appointed as the Crown Jewelers, noting that it was ``time for a change``.

The Great War; who would have ordered a dressing table mirror in 1915? Or we are just naïve.
On the other hand, more probably, it was a photo frame and the glass was replaced later. Still, very big for a photo frame, unless it was a royal presentation frame. It would make sense; beside well known Western front in France and Belgium, e.g. Army Ordnance Corps, Army Service Corps, Royal Engineers and Royal Army Medical Corps were deployed with allied forces throughout Europe at the time. Very good reason for a royal gift by the allies.

1. Was Garrard appointed as the Crown Jeweler by other monarchies?
2. Was the mark with the crown struck on silver made only for royal courts?
(I have not seen the crown in Garrard marks so far).
3. Can we identify the coat of arms?
In heraldic terms it is a crown — not a coronet; it has to be royalty. White eagle, white cross, fleur-de-lis on both sides. What is in red inescutcheon ?

This might contribute to the history of Garrard.

[dognose]

Hi AG2012,

Regarding question 2, I'm not sure if I have got hold of the wrong end of the stick, but if you are referring to the lack of the 'crown' as part of the registered maker's mark, as was always the case with Garrard's previous marks, then the answer to the question is that as from 1901 the London Assay Office no longer accepted any maker's mark that contained a crown device and all firms that had previously had that device as part of their mark were required to submit new marks, thus the plain 'SG', rather than the 'Crowned SG' that had only been registered in the previous year, 1900.

Regards, Trev.

[AG2012]

Right,plain 'SG' here, but crowned ``Garrard & Co`` in full lettering.Plain ``SG`` was legislated mark, as you said.It seems they had full liberty with additional marks in whatever lettering, including the street.Have searched and there is no crown over ``Garrard & Co,Albemarle St``
But this frame has it crowned - why? Have asked them regarding this, as well as the provenance;hopefully we will have the answer.
Regards

[dognose]

It is doubtful as to whether Garrard's were appointed as a Crown Jeweller to any other Royal House, but certainly they had accounts with many other Royal households including Russia, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Greece, Netherlands, and Spain. They were also known suppliers to the Emperor of China, the King of Siam, the Shah of Persia, the Khedive of Egypt, the Shahzada Nasrulla Khan of Afghanistan, and Prince Arisugawa of Japan, and many others.

The crest on your photo frame is that of Serbia.

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Coat_ ... _small.svg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Trev.

[AG2012]

Thank you so much! I remember Garrard repaired Norwegian crown some time ago.
1915 is interesting.The frame must have been given during The Great War;Serbia was incorporated in The Kingdom of Yugoslavia after WW I.
Will try to search for provenance;many British services and regiments were engaged in The Balkans at the time.

[dognose]

Remember that the English date letter system changes on the 30th May every year, so include 1916 in your research.

There was the Royal Serbian Legation to the Court of St James present in London during this period, perhaps a diplomatic gift?

Trev.

[AG2012]

Hello again Trev,
You helped a lot providing the clue where to start searching.
Called the previous owner of the frame for additional information. The provenance: his grand-grand father who immigrated to Canada and Serbian FIRST STEAMSHIP COMPANY engaged under the command of Admiral Sir Ernest Troubridge at The Danube in WW I. Signed photo of King Peter I was in the frame. Lost!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Troubridge" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Admiral Sir Ernest Charles Thomas Troubridge KCMG, MVO (15 July 1862 — 28 January 1926)
``The British naval mission to Serbia was intended to support Serbian efforts to resist the Austro-Hungarian flotilla``
Honors and awards
Grand Cross of the Order of the White Eagle with Swords (Serbia)
Grand Officer of the Order of Karageorge with Swords (Serbia)

Date letter for 1915 makes sense now. And it was not a mirror.
A small piece of British history and Garrard silver.