VICTORIA AT AUCTION

‘Royal jewellery as singular as this rarely comes up for sale,’ notes John Benjamin of the coronet. Here are a few more regal pieces of note…

SILK STOCKINGS

In 2009, a pair of Victoria’s silk stockings from around 1859 with an embroidered coronet and monogram were sold by Hansons. They had belonged to the queen’s personal reader, a Miss Skerrett, for many years. Estimated at between £ 500–£700, they !nally sold for £10,000.

HAND-CROCHETED SCARF

Victoria cared deeply for her troops, as is proven by a 162cm-long scarf she crocheted herself for an ordinary soldier. The light khaki wool muf "er, one of eight made by the queen, was presented to William Thomas Colclough in 1900. It was sold, with accompanying medals, by Spink & Son in July 2017 for £15,600 including buyers’ premium.

MOURNING DRESS

After her beloved Albert’s death, Victoria was never seen out of mourning. A complete out ! t in her signature black style, including a richly decorated, bombazine bodice and skirt, straw hat with veil, silk undergarments and boots was sold by Hansons, for a hammer price of £ 6,200.

SILK JACKET

In 2016 an exquisite watered- silk jacket went under the hammer at Ewbank’s, fetching £ 3,800. Satinstitched in silver thread, the collarless jacket with loose bodice and bell sleeves had been presented to an anonymous private collection by Queen Mary, Victoria’s granddaughter-in-law.

BLOOMERS

In 2015 the world tittered as some of Victoria’s most intimate undergarments were auctioned. Stars of the show were a pair of the queen’s ‘big knickers’; simple, cotton drawers bearing the royal stamp ‘ VR’ and dating from the 1890s from their whopping 45in waistband. They were sold by Chippenham Auction Rooms for £12,390.