Recently found at market in England and produced as lasting mementos to celebrate the Queen's historic Diamond Jubilee, each of these richly decorated Antique 1897 Queen Victoria Diamond Commemorative Plates has surely held pride of place in china cabinets and cupboard displays for more than a 125 years. 

Soft scallops emanate in a graceful pattern around the rim of each transferware plate while striking, deep-hued details depict strong imagery befitting the beloved Queen. The first plate, a portrait likeness, features a central profile of the mature Queen in her "Widow's Crown" executed in a delicately etched style. Accented by the phrase 'Honi Mal Pense' with a regal scepter below, the portrait is surrounded by a lovely border of laurel with commemorations scattered around the perimeter.

The Beloved Victoria
The Record Reign
The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee
1837 to 1897

The second plate boasts a central image of the young Queen on horseback with the year of ascension, 1837, surrounded by additional portraits and scenes. At upper left, a rendering of Queen Elizabeth I with the dates 1558-1603; and upper right, Queen Anne with her reign marked by the dates 1702-1714. An additional image of Queen Victoria appears at the lower edge. To each side, images mark the Queen’s ascension in 1837 and Jubilee Review in 1887. 

Most prominently at upper center, the plate reads:

In Commemoration of 
Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee
1837 1897

At once resplendent with regal presence and 19th-century hand-crafted charm, these beautiful plates are sure to bring a royal touch to any setting with their sweet and winsome presence.

Strictly one-of-a-kind and subject to prior sale. Sold separately. Please make selection from the drop down menu. In original antique condition, commensurate with age. Plates measure 7" in diameter.

Learn More About Queen Victoria

Queen Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from June 20, 1837 until her death on January 22, 1901. From May 1, 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India.

Victoria was born on May 24, 1819 and was the daughter of Prince Edward, the fourth son of King George III. In a twist of fate, both her father and the King died in 1820, and Victoria was raised under close supervision by her very strict German-born mother Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. On June 20, 1837, Victoria's uncle King William IV died at the age of 71, and at the very young age of 18, Victoria became Queen.  In her diary she wrote, "I was awoke at 6 o'clock by Mamma, who told me the Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Conyngham were here and wished to see me. I got out of bed and went into my sitting-room (only in my dressing gown) and alone, and saw them. Lord Conyngham then acquainted me that my poor Uncle, the King, was no more, and had expired at 12 minutes past 2 this morning, and consequently that I am Queen."

The United Kingdom was already an established constitutional monarchy, in which the Sovereign held relatively few direct political powers. Privately, Victoria attempted to influence government policy and ministerial appointments. Publicly, she became a national icon, and was identified with strict standards of personal morality.

Victoria married her first cousin, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, in 1840. By all accounts a happy union, their nine children married into royal and noble families across the continent, tying them together and earning Victoria the nickname "the grandmother of Europe".

After Albert's early death in 1861, Victoria plunged into deep mourning for the remainder of her life, choosing to wear black and having a special crown fashioned that would allow her widow's cap (head veil) to remain in place for royal engagements. 

The 60th anniversary of her reign, her Diamond Jubilee, was a time of joyous public celebration on June 22, 1897. Queen Victoria had surpassed her grandfather King George III as the longest-reigning British monarch on 23 September 1896, an event she marked privately at Balmoral Castle.  Writing in her journal, she reflected "People wished to make all sorts of demonstrations, which I asked them not to do until I had completed the sixty years next June." The Diamond Jubilee became a historic opportunity to celebrate Victoria's status as longest-reigning monarch, in addition to marking 60 years on the throne.

On the anniversary date of her accession, 78 year-old Victoria once again reflected in her journal: "This eventful day, 1897 has opened, and I pray God to help and protect me as He has hitherto done these sixty long eventful years! I feel sad at the new losses I have sustained... God will surely help me on! How well I remember this day sixty years ago when I was called from my bed by dear Mama to receive the news of my accession!"

Until the record-setting service of Elizabeth II, Queen Victoria's reign of 63 years and seven months was the longest of any other British monarch and the longest of any female monarch in history.  Still referred to today as the Victorian era, it was a period of vast industrial, cultural, political, scientific, and military change within the United Kingdom.

Learn More about Coronation Memorabilia

As a means to commemorate historic events - including coronations; silver, golden and diamond jubilees; royal weddings and royal visits to distant lands - artisans and craftspeople were commissioned to create beautiful pieces of memorabilia. Highly collectable, they are much more than mementos of an event long past. They are lovely pieces created to capture the spirit of their time as much as they capture our imaginations today.