The Mansion House is home to one of the largest and finest gold
and silver plate collections in the world and houses pieces given
as gifts or acquired by the Mayoralty and the City of London
Corporation. The Plate Collection is in constant use for ceremonial
occasions, as ornament and as table decoration throughout the house
for events.
Below we give you a flavour of some of the star items of the
collection: the Fire Cup, Collar of Esses, Sword and Mace, and the
Pearl Sword. But there are many interesting items:
flagons and rosewater dishes, candelabra, cups,
cigarette boxes, wine labels, cutlery, bowls and vases.
One object, a speech timer given in 1975 by a Lord Mayor who
disliked long speeches, has three egg timers that provide a visual
guide to ensure the speaker knows when they have spoken for too
long. On one of three silver centrepieces made in 1880 there is a
figure representing navigation, with a little pillar by her side on
top of which there is a working compass! Another interesting item
is Queen Victoria’s knife and fork, originally given to the young
Queen Victoria to eat her dessert at the coronation banquet in 1838
at The Guildhall. The Queen was presented with them at the end of
the meal and they remained at Buckingham Palace until Queen
Mary returned them to the Lord Mayor in 1936.
The Fire Cup of 1662
The Fire Cup pictured on the right, is the only
example of City of London plate surviving the Great Fire of London
of 1666 and is so named after its recovery from the flames at
Guildhall. Originally this was a covered silver bowl given in 1580
by Robert Christopher a member of the Clothworkers Company but was
reworked according to the fashion of the time into its present form
in 1662.
The Collar of Esses
The Collar of Esses pictured on the left was
bequeathed by Sir John Aleyn a Mercer and Lord Mayor in 1535.
It is suggested that the collar was part of Sir Thomas More’s
regalia, forfeited to the crown on his execution. The gold
portcullis bears a striking resemblance to the one painted by Hans
Holbein on display at the Frick Gallery in New York. The roses are
enamel and the garter knots, like the 'Esses' are made in
solid gold. The Diamond badge or Jewel features a fine cameo of the
City arms surrounded by the city motto within a garter of gold,
blue enamel and diamonds. The encircling gold wreath is adorned
with diamond set roses, shamrocks and thistles. The Lord Mayor
wears a replica chain and badge for daily events.
The Sword and Mace
The Sword and Mace pictured on the right are the
symbols of the Lord Mayor and the City of London Corporation’s
authority granted by the monarch and parliament and are carried by
the Swordbearer and Sergeant At Arms for ceremonial events. The
Mace was made in 1735 by John White of London in silver gilt. It is
beautifully crafted, surmounted by a royal crown with orb and cross
under which are the royal arms and cipher of George the third. The
Shaft is of baluster form with knops elaborately decorated in
relief. The State sword originates from the mid-seventeenth
century, its pommel is wrought with representations
of Justice and Fame and the sheath is of red velvet adorned
with Royal emblems and the City arms. There are a further four
swords, the Pearl sword, the Mourning Sword, the Old Bailey Sword
and the Mansion House Justice Room Sword!
The Pearl Sword
The Pearl Sword pictured on the left was used
according to legend, by Elizabeth I at the opening of first
Royal Exchange in 1571. The scabbard contains over two
thousand five hundred pearls sewn on both sides. The sword is now
used when the reigning Sovereign comes in state to the City of
London. The Lord Mayor offers the sword to the Sovereign who
touches it. The Lord Mayor then bears the sword aloft in front of
the Monarch. This ceremony used to take place at one of the City
boundaries but now takes place at the location the Monarch is
visiting.
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Tours of the Mansion House.
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