Badge, Royal Waterman, London, 1720
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
ca. 1720
The river Thames served as key route of transport until fairly recently. Those manning the numerous ships, barges and tugs on the river are still known as Thames Watermen. The British monarch was no exception and travelled on the Thames between royal palaces and on state occasions. The royal barges were rowed by the Royal Watermen, a select group chosen from the Thames Watermen.
Even today, 24 Royal Waterman perform ceremonial functions. They still wear two partly gilded silver badges which are sewn onto the chest of their bright red liveries, the crown on top of the Royal Coat-of-arms. This set of watermen's badges is part of the Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection, on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum. Arthur Gilbert transferred his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996, and it has been on loan to the V&A since 2008
The badge is embossed with the Horse of hanover, Tudor Rose, and Stuarts Thistle of Scotland over the royal motto, DIEU ET MON DROIT.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 2
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
This set of waterman’s badges is particularly interesting because crown and armorial were created for two different royal dynasties: the marks visible at the of the crown show that it was assessed at London’ Goldsmith Hall in 1685, during the reign of Charles II, who died on 6 February 1685, or his successor James II (James VII of Scotland). Both were members of the House of Stuart.
The royal armorial in contrast is that of the Hanoverians. George I was the first Hanoverian on the British throne and succeeded Queen Anne in 1714. Provenance Acquired by Arthur Gilbert from S.J. Phillips Ltd, London, 1994.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- Silver, parcel-gilt
- Dimensions
- Height: 17.2 cm; Width: 16.1 cm; Depth: 2.5 cm
Technical characteristics
- Maker recorded
- Garthorne, Francis
- Place recorded
- London
Identification
- Source note
- Transcribed from the Victoria and Albert Museum, London collection record for this single object (sentences kept verbatim apart from removed sale or rarity wording); how far it represents a wider collectible type has not been independently verified.
- Candidate id
- vam-O156322
- Museum object name
- Badge
- Holding institution
- Victoria and Albert Museum, London
- Museum object number
- LOAN:GILBERT.595-2008
- Museum system number
- O156322
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: confirm the wider type, maker and dating against a specialist reference; this entry documents one recorded example.