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Queen Mary's Personal Secretaire Bookcase, HMS Medina
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Queen Mary's Personal Secretaire Bookcase, HMS Medina
Queen Mary's Personal Secretaire Bookcase - The Royal Yacht, HMS Medina, 1911-1912 Coronation Expedition to India for the Durbar. Designed and made for Her Majesty by Waring and Gillow. The Connoisseur magazine dated November 1911 describes the kitting out of the Royal Yacht by the famous cabinet making company Warings & Gillow who had been personally commissioned by Queen Mary to design and make all the furniture for the royal quarters, on the starboard and port sides of the yacht. The Editor of the Connoisseur magazine was invited on board HMS Medina once all the works had been completed, and a thorough description with pictures was compiled. Research by the vendor at the Royal Greenwich Observatory research library revealed an original black and white photograph showing this bookcase to the left of Queen Mary's bed with a matching one on the other side. The piece itself was created using the finest Brazilian mahogany inlaid with satinwood and kingwood cross banded veneers. The original leather remains on the secretaire for posterity, showing ink spills possibly from rough weather when Queen Mary would have been writing letters and diary entries. On the return of HMS Medina in June 1912, all the royal furniture was taken off the yacht for an exhibition of the royal quarters. It was advertised in the then fledgling magazine Homes & Gardens'. The exhibition opened at the Waring & Gillow shop in Bond Street, London. The furniture was then sent to auction and this piece was most likely painted after WW1 by its new owner. The handles are solid silver as are the locks, an extremely unusual feature. On the inside of the drawer is a bronze engraved plate HMS MEDINA used for the state visit to India, TM the King & Queen 1911-12, Warings, London. (1 of 3) Date: 1910s
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This stunning photograph showcases Queen Mary's Personal Secretaire Bookcase, which was specially designed and crafted by Waring and Gillow for Her Majesty's royal quarters on board the HMS Medina during her Coronation Expedition to India for the Durbar in 1911-1912. The Connoisseur magazine documented the meticulous process of outfitting the yacht with exquisite furniture by Waring and Gillow, who were personally commissioned by Queen Mary for the project. The bookcase, made from the finest Brazilian mahogany, is inlaid with satinwood and kingwood cross-banded veneers, showcasing the exceptional craftsmanship of the time. The original leather on the secretaire still bears ink spills, a testament to Queen Mary's use of the piece during her voyages, possibly while writing letters and diary entries. After the return of HMS Medina in June 1912, all the royal furniture was taken off the yacht for an exhibition of the royal quarters. The furniture was displayed at the Waring & Gillow shop in Bond Street, London, and later sent to auction. This piece was most likely painted after World War I by its new owner. The handles and locks of the secretaire are solid silver, an extremely rare and valuable feature. The inside of the drawer bears a bronze engraved plate, which reads "HMS MEDINA used for the state visit to India, TM the King & Queen 1911-12, Warings, London." This remarkable piece of history offers a glimpse into the elegance and luxury of the royal yacht during a significant moment in British history.
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