Produced as souvenirs to celebrate the queen's history-making 1897 Diamond Jubilee Year, these striking Queen Victoria Jubilee Mugs each proclaims that a grand celebration is at hand! Discovered at market in the north of England, each of these antique mugs is resplendent with national pride fitting the commemoration of the significant milestone of Queen Victoria's record-setting 60-year reign.

The highly decorative glazed vessels with their portrait medallions were designed to be attractive accessible souvenirs, priced within the means of the majority of British subjects. Thousands of designs crafted by Britain's prolific potteries, centered in the Stoke-upon-Trent area, were offered by shops and civic organizations, as well as retail brands proffering these sweet treasures as promotional items. Town councils, local districts, and schools independently ordered bespoke mugs inscribed for their specific local celebrations. With great pride in her accomplishments and reign, keepsakes often featured portraits of the beloved Queen throughout her lifetime along with heraldic imagery and floral motifs. 

Each of these mugs captures an interpretation of mature Queen Victoria taken from iconic portraits, two of which depict the Queen posed regally in her traditional mourning cap and crown. This stylized attire associated with the queen as a widow reflects the deep love and an abiding dedication to the memory of her Royal Consort, Prince Albert, following his death in 1861 at the relatively young age of 42. With graceful, tapered silhouettes and fond likenesses of the Queen surmounted by different variations of imagery, each mug features the Jubilee year 1897 and commemorates 60 years upon the throne.

These cheerful cups celebrating Queen Victoria are quaint examples of early royal memorabilia and promise to enliven any setting with their captivating charm.

Strictly one-of-a-kind and subject to prior sale. In very good antique condition with signs of use commensurate with age. Golden Jubilee Beaker measures 3.75"H x 4.5", Golden Jubilee Mug measures 4"H x 3.5", Diamond Jubilee Mug measures 4"H x 5.75".

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.