Hardstone carvings

It was common in the courts of Germany to create a Wunderkammer or cabinet to house a collection of small treasures and exotic curiosities. Queen Caroline created such a space at Kensington Palace, where she compiled a remarkable collection of hardstone carvings. Some of these, shown here, reflected her interest in the history of the princely houses of Europe, the highlights being the two portraits of Elizabeth I which are carved to the highest quality.