The Prince and the Plunder

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

Category: Said to belong to the queen

Silver amulet with two copper rings

Published January 05, 2018 / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: A cylindrical silver amulet and two copper rings, said to have belonged to Ethiopia’s Queen Terunesh

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

©Victoria & Albert Museum, London

The catalogue entry reads: “Amulet. Silver, cylindric, with three suspensory rings; attached are two rings of copper; belonging formerly to the Queen of Abyssinia. Abyssinian. Given by the Secretary of State for India. April 28th 1869.”

See ‘Set of Articles of Deceased Queen of Abyssinia’ and related correspondence in British Library collections at IOR R/20/AIA/503.

Museum number:
411-1869

Posted In Adornments & jewelry | Royal regalia | Said to belong to the queen | The Plunder
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Queen Terunesh’s dress

Published January 05, 2018 / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: A dress, made of cotton embroidered with silk, said to have belonged to Ethiopia’s Queen Terunesh

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

©Victoria & Albert Museum, London

The catalogue entry, which has more images. says “This Ethiopian kamis (dress) belonged to Queen Terunesh, or Empress Tiruwork Wube, the second wife of Emperor Tewodros II and the mother of Prince Alemayehu. The Queen died about a month after the 1868 siege of Maqdala (Magdala), while being escorted by the British army to her home province. Her possessions were then sent to England, to the Secretary of State for India, who gave this garment to the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1869. Items looted during the siege were also given to the Museum.”

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Crill, Rosemary, Jennifer Wearden and Verity Wilson. Dress in Detail from Around the World. London: V&A Publications, 2002. 224 p., ill. ISBN 09781851773787. p. 36.

Museum number:
400-1869

Posted In Dresses & shawls | Royal regalia | Said to belong to the queen
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Queen’s silver necklace

Published January 05, 2018 / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: A silver, triple chain necklace, said to have belonged to Ethiopia’s Queen Terunesh

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

©Victoria & Albert Museum, London

The catalogue entry says: “Neck ornament. Silver, triple small chain attached to an openwork clasp with six conical pendants; belonging formerly to the Queen of Abyssinia. Abyssinian. Given by the Secretary of State for India. April 28th 1869.”

Museum number:
406-1869

See ‘Set of Articles of Deceased Queen of Abyssinia’ and related correspondence in British Library collections at IOR R/20/AIA/503.

Posted In Adornments & jewelry | Royal regalia | Said to belong to the queen | The Plunder
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Bunch of twelve silver and gilt rings

Published January 05, 2018 / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: A bunch of 12 silver and gilt rings, said to have belonged to Ethiopia’s Queen Terunesh

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

©Victoria & Albert Museum, London

The catalogue entry reads: “Rings (twelve). Silver, six gilt, all without ornament; belonging formerly to the Queen of Abyssinia. Abyssinian. Given by the Secretary of State for India. April 28th 1869.”

Museum number:
407-1869

See ‘Set of Articles of Deceased Queen of Abyssinia’ and related correspondence in British Library collections at IOR R/20/AIA/503.

Posted In Adornments & jewelry | Royal regalia | Said to belong to the queen | The Plunder
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Ten horn rings

Published January 05, 2018 / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: Ten horn rings, said to have belonged to Ethiopia’s Queen Terunesh

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

©Victoria & Albert Museum, London

The catalogue entry reads: “Rings (ten). Horn, without ornament; belonging formerly to the Queen of Abyssinia. Abyssinian. Given by the Secretary of State for India. April 28th 1869.”

Museum number:
414-1869

See ‘Set of Articles of Deceased Queen of Abyssinia’ and related correspondence in British Library collections at IOR R/20/AIA/503.

Posted In Adornments & jewelry | Royal regalia | Said to belong to the queen | The Plunder
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Queen Terunesh’s silver, leather and amber necklace

Published January 05, 2018 / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: A silver, leather and amber necklace, said to have belonged to Ethiopia’s Queen Terunesh

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

©Victoria & Albert Museum, London

The catalogue entry reads: “Necklace. Silver and leather tubes separated by flat amber beads, belonging formerly to the Queen of Abyssinia. Abyssinian. Given by the Secretary of State for India. April 28th 1869”.

Museum number:
416-1869

See ‘Set of Articles of Deceased Queen of Abyssinia’ and related correspondence in British Library collections at IOR R/20/AIA/503.

Posted In Adornments & jewelry | Royal regalia | Said to belong to the queen | The Plunder
Tagged