This jewel cabinet is a proud dynastic statement incorporating the Queen’s favourite image of the Prince, the Royal and Saxe-Coburg arms, and portraits of their six children born before 1851. Designed in the form of a large reliquary, the cabinet was Elkington’s most important exhibit at the Great Exhibition at Crystal Palace. The form was intended to resemble a reliquary of cinquecento or Renaissance taste, combined with classical architecture and free-standing sculptural elements. Ostensibly this object was intended to act as a jewel cabinet although the doors open with push buttons and are unlockable. The cabinet incorporates plaques of KPM (Berlin) porcelain. The front shows Queen Victoria with the young Prince of Wales (later Edward VII), and Prince Albert in armour, the portraits after miniatures by Robert Thorburn, painted in 1844 and 5. The plaques were painted by the firm of Carl Schmidt of Bamberg. The portrait of Prince Albert was a particular favourite of Queen Victoria's. The remainder of the cabinet is decorated with Meissen porcelain plaques painted with the national emblems and armorials. The lower border of the cabinet is inset with six electroplated medallions, based on portraits by Leonard Wyon, commissioned by Queen Victoria from his father William Wyon. They show Princesses Victoria, Alice, Louise and Helena and Princes Arthur and Alfred.

At the Great Exhibition the cabinet won a Council Medal in Class 23 (metalwork) and the porcelain painters were awarded an Honourable Mention in Class 30 (painting).

Plaques of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert signed DECKELMANN (for Andreas Deckelmann, 1820-82) and Wustlich (for Otto Wustlich, 1819-96) respectively; one medallion dated MDCCCLI

Text adapted from Victoria & Albert: Art & Love, London, 2010