Hallmarked 1934
Provenance: Presented to C.H. Russ, British Gaumont Picture Corporation.
Silver rectangular panels with chamfered corners set alternately wiyh ‘G’ and ‘M’ cyphers of Prince George and Princess Marina in blue enamel, surmounted by coronet of a prince of the blood royal also in enamels. Hallmarked Birmingham 1934. Maker’s marks of Royal Warrant holder Henry Hodson Plante of Bury Street, St James’s, London.
The Duke and Duchess of Kent were hugely popular with the British public in the 1930s. He was a known for his love of the good life, keeping dubious company, getting into trouble and irritating the establishment, particularly his father George V. Marina was regarded as the first modern royal fashion icon. She was the inspiring muse of designers, artists and photographers. After their Westminster Abbey wedding in 1934, the couple spent the first part of their honeymoon at Himley Hall, Staffordshire, the home of the Earl of Dudley. George’s brother the Prince of Wales was a frequent visitor to Himley owing to the presence Freda Dudley Ward, the wife of MP William Dudley Ward. During the Kents’ stay Lord Dudley prevailed on the Gaumont film company to arrange a special view of the movie ‘The Iron Duke’, starring George Arliss and Gladys Cooper. C.H. Russ was Gaumont’s man on the spot.