Dried flower
Category
Household and miscellaneous
Date
1881
Materials
Paper, Perspex, Primrose, String, Textile
Measurements
7.5 in (Length)
Order this imageCollection
Hughenden, Buckinghamshire
NT 428886
Caption
This dried spray of primroses with handwritten labels is a symbol of a bond between prime minister and queen. On 26 April 1881, mourners gathered at Hughenden to witness the quiet funeral of former prime minister Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield (1804–81). Among the tributes received in the following days was a wreath of fresh primroses given in ‘affectionate remembrance from Victoria R’. Since Disraeli’s first premiership in 1868, Queen Victoria (1819–1901) had sent him bunches of spring blooms, and poignantly chose what she believed to be his favourite flowers for the funeral wreath. Soon afterwards the humble primrose began to take on a more political significance, as Disraeli – who had often divided opinion in life – became a posthumous Conservative icon. In 1883 the Primrose League was founded to promote Conservative values and generate support for the Conservative Party. By 1891 this popular political movement had over one million members. They wore primrose badges and marked ‘Primrose Day’ on 19 April – the anniversary of Disraeli’s death – by laying wreaths on his grave and around his public statues.
Summary
Dried spray of primroses from wreath sent by Queen Victoria to Disraeli's funeral. In perspex box with two handwritten labels from Victoria, which accompanied wreaths sent by the Queen on anniversaries of Disraeli's death. The first reads 'A mark of affectionate remembrance from Victoria R' and the second 'A mark of grateful remembrance from Victoria R'. Both have ribbons attached. The second label also has attached a piece of red string with a circular label marked '170'. On the reverse of the box there are two labels. One is a loan label dating from the loan of the object in 1905. The lender was a Mr Blagden. The other is inscribed 'Primroses from memorial wreath sent by Her Majesty Queen Victoria for the funeral of Lord Beaconsfield. April 26 1881.' Re-boxed in 1983.
Full description
Queen Victoria sent her two-time Prime Minster Disraeli a regular gift of spring flowers – often primroses - for many years. In writing to thank her on 28 March 1878, Disraeli described the ‘bright bands of primroses [that] visited him today’, and in another letter said he liked ‘primroses so much better for their being wild: they seem an offering from the fauns and dryads of the woods of Osborne [House, Isle of Wight].’ Following his death on 19 April 1881, Disraeli was buried quietly at Hughenden on 26 April. Protocol dictated that the queen was not in attendance, but she sent two wreaths, including one of fresh primroses. This dried bunch of primroses was kept, along with her handwritten notes. Four days later she visited the grave and later had a monument erected to him in Hughenden church, a compliment to a much-loved subject. In 1883, just two years after Disraeli’s death, the Primrose League was established. This organisation was founded in memory of Disraeli and to promote his conservative political ideals. By 1891 it had over one million members and became the largest popular political organisation of the nineteenth century. Members wore primrose badges (see NT 429279 for an example, also in the Hughenden collection) and made annual Primrose Day pilgrimages to Hughenden on 19th April, to lay primrose wreaths on his grave, and on statues of Disraeli in cities across the country.
Marks and inscriptions
'Primroses from memorial wreath sent by Her Majesty Queen Victoria for the funeral of Lord Beaconsfield. April 26 1881.' (label on base of box)