The exhibition, which runs until December, features a never-before-displayed portrait of Queen Mary, Queen Alexandra’s coronation gown along with more than 150 items including fashion, paintings and books.
The Edwardians: Age of Elegance is now open at The King’s Gallery, Palace of Hollyroodhouse in Edinburgh, shining a spotlight on two of Britain’s most fashionable royal couples – King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, and King George V and Queen Mary.
The display, which had a successful run in London, is open to visitors until 6th December.
Among more than 150 items on display in Scotland are Queen Alexandra’s coronation gown, a never-before-exhibited portrait of Queen Mary and a miniature sleigh paperweight made of rock crystal, on show in Scotland for the first time. Visitors can see works by celebrated names including Fabergé, Tiffany & Co, and Edward Burne-Jones.
Curator Kathryn Jones said: “The Edwardian era was a golden age of glamour and parties, but it was so much more than that; it was a fast-paced period making great advances in technology. Our royal couples wanted to make the most of it all, living lavishly and embracing new trends, before the sobering arrival of war.
“Throughout, they were collecting art as a way to hold onto tradition and capture the rapidly changing world around them. We hope that visitors to the exhibition will enjoy stepping back in time to this exciting period.”
What’s on display?
Full-length portraits of the two Queens open the exhibition. The portraits of Queen Alexandra by François Flameng, and Queen Mary by William Samuel Henry Llewellyn will be shown alongside marble busts of their husbands, Kings Edward and George.
The trailblazing gown worn by Queen Alexandra on her coronation is on display for the first time outside of London, alongside the outfit worn by King Edward VII. Alexandra broke from tradition with her choice of a gold, glittering material, which led to shift in fashion trends in the early 1900s.
Other items include a paperweight shaped like a tiny 10cm-tall sledge with a figure lying on it, 21 items produced by Fabergé, including an ornate picture frame with a photograph of Princess Louise, Duchess of Fife; a cigarette case given to Edward by his official mistress Mrs Keppel; and six miniature figures of the royal couple’s favourite animals on the Sandringham estate.
There’s a focus on the Edwardians’ fondness for the arts and the importance of garden parties in the social calendar, with a painting of a garden party at Buckingham Palace by Laurits Tuxen featuring in the exhibition.
Displays depict the interiors of the royal couples’ private residences, Marlborough House and Sandringham House, where every surface and cabinet was filled with small decorative objects or family photographs.
Group visits
Groups of 15 or more can take advantage of special rates when booking to visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse and The King’s Gallery.
They can also take advantage of private views of the exhibition when the The King’s Gallery is closed to the public in the morning and evening. The private view includes a talk by an expert guide, followed by a self-guided tour. The evening tour includes a glass of champagne.
For more information about the exhibition, visit www.rct.uk/whatson.
