Robe
Category
Costume
Date
1840 - 1860
Materials
Silk damask, Gold braid, Embroidery
Measurements
5 ft (Height)
Order this imageCollection
Hughenden, Buckinghamshire
NT 429167
Caption
Benjamin Disraeli (1804–81) was a powerhouse of Victorian politics, becoming prime minister first in 1868 and then again in 1874. Through his keen mind, his charisma and wit, he became a political jewel in the crown of Queen Victoria (1819–1901) and was widely recognised as her favourite prime minister during her reign. Disraeli served three terms as chancellor of the exchequer, one of the oldest and most esteemed positions in government. He would have worn these opulent robes of black damask and gold braid during his time holding the office. The chancellor’s robes were material symbols of the importance and authority of the wearer. The belief that they had been worn by great statesmen, including Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger (1759–1806), enthralled Disraeli – and made him reluctant to part with them. When his successor and political rival, the Liberal politician William Gladstone (1809–98), wrote and requested that the robes should rightfully be returned to him, Disraeli ignored his letters, and Gladstone was forced to pay for a new set. Helen Antrobus
Summary
Robe of Chancellor of the Exchequer, in black silk damask with gold-coloured metal thread braid, and highly decorative frogging incorporating tassels and spangles. Has a train and hanging false sleeves.
Full description
This opulent robe of office was worn by the future Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli (1804–81) during his three terms of office as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the mid-19th century, one of the oldest and most important roles in British government. It is made of black silk damask and is heavily embellished with gold embroidery, braid and trimming. Worn on ceremonial occasions, it's believed that the robe once belonged to William Pitt the Younger who held the same office during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The origins of this style of state attire can be traced to the parliamentary and court fashions in England following the restoration of Charles II in 1660.
References
Antrobus and Slocombe 2025: Helen Antrobus and Emma Slocombe, 100 Things to Wear: Fashion from the collections of the National Trust, National Trust 2025, pp. 92-93.