Royalty

Commemorative Horse Brass designs began with the Jubilee of Queen Victoria. There are more than 50 designs showing Queen Victoria in various frames.  This was at the height of the "horse brass era".

QUEEN VICTORIA

Victoria succeeded her uncle, William IV, to the throne in 1837, at the age of 18.  On the day on which she learned at 6 a.m. from the Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Chamberlain that she was queen, she wrote in her diary:  "Since it has pleased Providence to place me in this station I shall do my utmost to fulfil my duties towards my country.  I am very young and perhaps in many, though not all things, inexperienced, but I am sure that very few have more real good-will and more real desire to do what is fit and right than I have".  
She married Albert of Saxe-Coburg and had nine children.  Albert died in 1861. Commemorative brasses were issued to celebrate her birth, accession, marriage, Golden Jubilee, Diamond Jubilee and death.  After the death of Albert no official celebrations were allowed and there were no commemorative issues to celebrate her Silver Jubilee in 1862 as she had withdrawn from public appearances during her period of mourning.   She was 81 when she died in 1901.

3Diamond border - probably produced for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee

Accurate depiction of the Queen's Portrait during the final four years of her reign4

46-001 - S

46-002 - S

3Rare use of the full bust of Queen Victoria with no frame

Some brasses were also issued showing Queen Victoria with her hair in a "bun".  These are very rare4

THE GOLDEN JUBILEE
There are well over 50 brasses commemorating Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee

46-008

46-009

46-010

This brass used the portrait of the Queen which was introduced in 1887 for coinage (designed by Thomas Brock).  This brass depicts the date of Accession and the Jubilee.

The crescent is used as a frame for this brass also rarely seen with a double hanger

THE DIAMOND JUBILEE

 Queen Victoria was the only monarch to go on to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee - many brasses were issued to commemorate this, although many manufacturers re-issued the Golden Jubilee designs replacing the date 1887 with 1897.  There were a number of new designs as well.

46-011

46-012

46-013

Similar to 46-004 above 

The raised crescent is used as a frame for this brass - 1897 

Although no dates are on this brass, one can assume that it was issued to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee

46-014

46-015

46-016

Modern reproduction

In this brass the diamond was the prominent feature of this design

Originally produced c. 1897

3The crown is used as a basis for the outline of this brass.  The design not long recognises the Queen's Golden Jubilee but also recognises her "record reign"

A similar brass was also issued with the Queen's bust and "bun" or "widow's weeds"  for her Golden Jubilee4

THE VICTORIA CROSS  
A variety of brasses were issued using the Maltese Cross.  This cross was popularised by Queen Victoria when she instituted the highest award for valour in the nation - The Victoria Cross (see below) - during the Crimean War. Many of these brasses depict the dates for both the Golden and Diamond Jubilees. 
A similar brass was issued as part of a series of 3 in 2002 to commemorate the centenary of Queen Victoria's death in 1902.

46-020

46-021

46-022

Victorian Commemorative - Stamped.  There were various dates stamped onto these brasses - this one was issued to commemorate the Queen's thirtieth wedding anniversary.  There was also a similar brass issued with the date 1868 the reason for which is not known.

The death of Queen Victoria
1901

46-023

Stamped

 Royalty brasses were manufactured mainly from around 1887.  Many collectors regard royalty brasses as the "cream of their collection".  During the period of the Golden Jubilee the "fashion" for the wearing of horse brasses to decorate the harness was at its height.   The crescent was a popular choice in the design of these brasses.

Horse Brasses / Royalty 2