3-008-698 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Wedding presents to Her Royal Highness Princess Alice: paper-weight; jewel casket, 1862. The Duchess of Athole's present was a presse papier, the base formed from a piece of green variegated marble from Blair Athol, mounted with mouldings of oak leaves and acorns, having on one side in relief the arms of Prince Louis of Hesse and her Royal Highness's arms, with coronet over; on the other side the following inscription: "To H.R.H. the Princess Alice of England on her marriage, July 1st, 1862, by the Duchess of Athole." The whole was surmounted with a finely-modelled Royal stag ascending a rocky peak, designed by Frederick Tayler, Esq., R.A. The whole in silver gilt... The Countess of Fife's gift...[was] a richly silver-gilt jewel-casket, with a guardian angel at each corner, surmounted by a large cairngorm set in gold, engraved around, "Cairngorm from Mar Forest," the key formed of her Royal Highness's coronet; the whole richly engraved with rose, shamrock, and thistle, with monogram, and bearing a suitable inscription. The stone is a remarkable specimen, and is found of great beauty and size on the Mar estate. The whole of the above presents were made by Messrs. London and Ryder, of New Bond-street'. From "Illustrated London News", 1862.