Badge, Haberdashers Company, London, 1915-1916

This gold badge, decorated with a shield supported by a goat at each side and enamelled with the motto Serve and Obey was made for Colonel Henry L. Florence when he acted as Master of the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers, one of the twelve great London Livery companies. In 1502 the haberdashers were joined by the hatmakers' fraternity.

Thereafter there were two types of haberdasher: haberdashers of hats and the original haberdashers of small wares. The Company controlled the trade in these items and regulated apprenticeships. The Company was also active in education and set up schools, many of which are still active. Henry Louis Florence VD (1843-1916) was an architect and members of the Royal Institute of British Architects, serving as Vice-President from 1897 to 1899. He was a Fellow of the Geological Society and a Past Master of the Haberdashers' Company. He served in the Rifle Volunteers from 1871 to 1892 and retired with the rank of Lt. Col. As a young man he had studied in France.

He began to practice in 1871, at first in partnership with Lewis Henry Isaacs (1830-1908). Florence designed many public buildings and hotels, mainly in London, and was responsible for the restoration of the Hall at Grays Inn. He was a collector who made monetary bequests to the National Gallery, the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum, in addition to bequeathing many items to the latter museum. He had houses at 9 Princes Gate, South Kensington and at 16 Royal Crescent, Bath, and an office at No. 3 Verulam Buildings, Grays Inn. Enamelled gold plaque of a Master of the Company, with the motto 'SERVE AND OBEY', inscribed 'Colonel Henry L. Florence, V.D.', maker's mark 'Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Co.Ltd.'.

The plaque is chased with arms of the company, the shield in the centre of the badge and scrolls which hold the company motto are enamelled. The badge is suspended from a blue textile ribbon. There is a studio portrait of Henry Florence, dated 1890, in the RIBA collection (RIBA34778)