Object of the Day, Museum Edition: A Souvenir of the Coronation of King George VI

Coronation Mug
W.T. Copeland & Sons, 1937
Transferware
Portrait by Marcus Adams, 1934
The Royal Collection

Always devoted to her family, Queen Mary, despite the loss of her husband, King George V, took great pride in the ascension of her son, “Bertie” as King George VI and, frankly, great relief in the fact that her eldest son, David, abdicated the throne after refusing to give up his American socialite “girlfriend,” Mrs. Simpson.


Ever since her early childhood, Queen Mary had positioned herself as something of a family historian and took the task quite seriously. She would often say with pride that by the time of the ascension of her granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II, she was the only living person who remembered multiple generations of the Royal Family and could, without any hesitation, recite the names and circumstances of even the most obscure members of the family.

As unofficial Royal historian, Queen Mary made sure to collect items which were important to the family, even amassing a collection of the souvenir items which had produced to commemorate special occasions such as weddings and coronations.

The portrait by Marcus Adams
1934
Taken of the Duke and Duchess of York with
Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret Rose
The Royal Collection

This mug by W.T. Copeland and Sons, produced in 1937, was a favorite of the Queen’s. Made to commemorate the coronation of Mary’s son, “Bertie,” the mug is adorned with a 1934 portrait of King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, and their children, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret Rose beneath images of the Palace of Westminster and the Thames and surrounded by roses of England and thistles of Scotland.