A well-modelled figure celebrating the marriage of Princess Alice and Prince Louis of Hesse.
Princess Alice was the third child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Louis was a minor German royal. The two were married after rather more eligible suitors selected by Alice's older sister the Princess Royal were discounted as unsuitable.
They became the Grand Duke and Duchess of Hesse and by Rhein in 1877, but Alice died only a year and a half later after an outbreak of diphtheria in the grand ducal household. Like many others, her's is a sad story. The Grand Duke and Duchess' fifth and youngest child - Princess Marie - died of the disease at only four years old. Although Alice initially concealed this tragic news from her other children, she eventually told her elder son, Ernest, who was severely distressed. Moved to comfort him, Alice broke strict instructions to have no contact with the infected and kissed him. As a consequence of this act of maternal sympathy, she too became infected with diphtheria and died on the morning of 14th December 1878, precisely on the seventeenth anniversary of her father's death. Her last recorded words were 'dear Papa'.
Six years after her death, her husband the Grand Duke contracted a morganatic marriage (unequal social rank) with Countess Alexandrine von Hutten-Czapska, the daughter of a Polish Count. The Grand Duke's in-laws were staunchly opposed to the union and it was annulled only a week later. He died of a heart attack in 1892.
This figure is the smaller of two recorded sizes. It has lovely, detailed textures and a thick, pearly glaze. A good example, fresh out of the mould.
The figure is in reasonably good restored condition. There is an old repair and concealment to the Princess’ neck and the back of the Princess’ hat, and proficient restoration of the Prince’s nose.
Reference: A & N. Harding, Victorian Staffordshire Figures 1835 - 1875: Book One, p. 201, fig. 684
Height: 7.5”
Date: c. 1862
A well-modelled figure celebrating the marriage of Princess Alice and Prince Louis of Hesse.
Princess Alice was the third child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Louis was a minor German royal. The two were married after rather more eligible suitors selected by Alice's older sister the Princess Royal were discounted as unsuitable.
They became the Grand Duke and Duchess of Hesse and by Rhein in 1877, but Alice died only a year and a half later after an outbreak of diphtheria in the grand ducal household. Like many others, her's is a sad story. The Grand Duke and Duchess' fifth and youngest child - Princess Marie - died of the disease at only four years old. Although Alice initially concealed this tragic news from her other children, she eventually told her elder son, Ernest, who was severely distressed. Moved to comfort him, Alice broke strict instructions to have no contact with the infected and kissed him. As a consequence of this act of maternal sympathy, she too became infected with diphtheria and died on the morning of 14th December 1878, precisely on the seventeenth anniversary of her father's death. Her last recorded words were 'dear Papa'.
Six years after her death, her husband the Grand Duke contracted a morganatic marriage (unequal social rank) with Countess Alexandrine von Hutten-Czapska, the daughter of a Polish Count. The Grand Duke's in-laws were staunchly opposed to the union and it was annulled only a week later. He died of a heart attack in 1892.
This figure is the smaller of two recorded sizes. It has lovely, detailed textures and a thick, pearly glaze. A good example, fresh out of the mould.
The figure is in reasonably good restored condition. There is an old repair and concealment to the Princess’ neck and the back of the Princess’ hat, and proficient restoration of the Prince’s nose.
Reference: A & N. Harding, Victorian Staffordshire Figures 1835 - 1875: Book One, p. 201, fig. 684
Height: 7.5”
Date: c. 1862
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