The Prince and the Plunder

A book on how Britain took one boy and piles of treasures from Ethiopia

Author: Andrew Heavens

The emperor’s throne cloth

Published June 18, 2024 / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: Throne cloth made of gold thread and velvet

Where: The Duke of Wellington’s Regimental Museum, Bankfield Museum, Boothtown Road, Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX3 6HG

“Mr Rigby Wason has most kindly and generously presented to the Regiment the throne-cloth of King Theodore of Abyssinia, which formed part of the loot obtained by his cousin, Capt. Sandys Wason, of the 33rd Regiment, in the Abyssinian War. The throne-cloth is a really magnificent piece of work, containing more gold thread than velvet, and is approximately 12ft. by 8ft. in dimension.”
Article in the regimental magazine The Iron Duke, 1949

The cloth can be seen draped over the back of the display dedicated to the Abyssinian Campaign at the Halifax museum.

Posted In Royal regalia | Said to belong to Tewodros | The Plunder
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Shield covered in blue velvet, and silver gilt

Published June 18, 2024 / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: A shield from the 18th or 19th century, covered in blue velvet with applied silver-gilt embossed and filigree mounts, with a commemorative brass plaque

Where: The Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Rd, Knightsbridge, London SW7 2RL

The catalogue entry reads: “This shield was taken by the Royal Naval Brigade serving with British troops at the siege of Magdala (Mek’dala) in 1868. It was placed on loan at the South Kensington museum (later renamed the Victoria and Albert Museum) by the Lords of the Admiralty in 1868.”

Museum number:
M.24:1, 2-2005

Posted In Military | Shields | The Plunder
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Silver anklets

Published June 18, 2024 / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: Silver anklets, ornamented with silver-gilt filigree, bought for £6 from Major Holland

Where: The Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Rd, Knightsbridge, London SW7 2RL

The catalogue entry reads: “Silver, ornamented with silver-gilt filigree. Abyssinian. Price £6.0.0 the pair. Purchased from Major Holland. Date of receipt from stores 26th April 1869…

“The vendor may have been Major Trevenen James Holland who, with a military colleague, Sir Henry Montague Hozier, provided the only official account of the expedition on the orders of the Secretary of State for War. Their Record of the Expedition to Abyssinia was published in two volumes in 1870.”

Museum number:
1728-1869

Posted In Adornments & jewelry | Royal regalia | The Plunder
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Leather necklace with glass beads

Published June 18, 2024 / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: A necklace of leather, silver and glass bound with silver wire, and ornamented with glass beads, bought from Major Holland

Where: The Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Rd, Knightsbridge, London SW7 2RL

The catalogue entry reads: “Necklace. Twisted leather bound with silver wire, and ornamented with glass? Beads; worn by the Galla women. Abyssinian. Price £10.0.0. Purchased from Major Holland. Date of receipt from stores 26th April 1869…

“The vendor may have been Major Trevenen James Holland who, with a military colleague, Sir Henry Montague Hozier, provided the only official account of the expedition on the orders of the Secretary of State for War. Their Record of the Expedition to Abyssinia was published in two volumes in 1870.”

Museum number:
1729-1869

Posted In Clothes & ornaments | The Plunder
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Ethiopian earrings

Published June 18, 2024 / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: Earrings made of silver wire coiled into double scroll, bought from Major Holland

Where: The Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Rd, Knightsbridge, London SW7 2RL

The catalogue entry reads: “Earrings, a pair. Silver wire in a double scroll. Abyssinian. Price £1.10.0 the pair. Purchased from Major Holland. Date of receipt from stores 26th April 1869…

“The vendor may have been Major Trevenen James Holland who, with a military colleague, Sir Henry Montague Hozier, provided the only official account of the expedition on the orders of the Secretary of State for War. Their Record of the Expedition to Abyssinia was published in two volumes in 1870.”

Museum number:
1730&A-1869

Posted In Clothes & ornaments | Miscellaneous | The Plunder
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Soldier’s silver anklet

Published June 18, 2024 / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: An anklet, with incised ornament, “worn by soldiers”, bought from Major Holland

Where: The Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Rd, Knightsbridge, London SW7 2RL

The catalogue entry reads: “Anklet. Silver with incised ornament, worn by soldiers. Abyssinian. Price £1.0.0. Purchased from Major Holland. Date of receipt from stores 26th April 1869…

“The vendor may have been Major Trevenen James Holland who, with a military colleague, Sir Henry Montague Hozier, provided the only official account of the expedition on the orders of the Secretary of State for War. Their Record of the Expedition to Abyssinia was published in two volumes in 1870.”

Museum number:
1731-1869

Posted In Armour & apparel | Military | The Plunder
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