Royal Launching Casket Presented to The Princess of Wales by James Yolland & Mr F Yeo c.1903

Royal Launching casket presented to The Princess of Wales, by James Yolland and Mr F Yeo The casket, mallet and chisel were designed by Mr. James Yolland. The casket was personally carved by Mr. Yolland, assisted by Mr. Dangar, with Mr. F. Yeo carving the mallet and chisel, the whole being done under the supervision of Mr. Hester, foreman of joiners. The casket is intricately carved oak, with a similar design to that of the casket presented to Her Majesty Queen Alexandra in 1902. The pagoda shape of the box contains nautical themed carvings throughout, with the front of the centre panel depicting the Prince of Wales’ coat of arms, and the panels on either side the Prince of Wales’ feathers. The panels on the reverse show the Duchy of Cornwall’s coat of arms – a gateway with lion and crown-flanked on either side by the Prince of Wales’ plumes. Each end shows the borough arms of Devonport, supported by the rose, shamrock, thistle, laurel and oak, and the naval crown, in the shape of a chatelet. There are twelve Roman Doric columns supporting the corina. The domed cover has twenty panels, each separated by a rope style border. Sitting proud in the centre is a Roman Tolon style turret, which supports the Royal crown, resting on a carved cushion. Traditional dolphins adorn each corner. The base also features traditional dolphins at each foot, with scallop shells at the centre of each face. Inside the casket is lined with blue silk, with white wood mounts at the base to support the mallet and chisel. Both instruments are carved boxwood. The mallet continues the motif of the box, with the lobe showing the rose, shamrock and thistle, and on the sides are laurels, oak leaves, and acorns. The mallet is topped and tailed with the Royal crown and the Naval crown. The silver chisel has a similar handle design to that of the mallet, with acanthus leaves and Louis scroll, also with a naval crown at the end of the handle. The cover has silver hinges and lock. Inside the lid of the casket is a photograph showing the ship, together with the following description:- HMS KING EDWARD VII., First Class Battleship. Designed by Sir W. H. White, K. C. B., F. R. S., &c. Launched by H. R. H. THE PRINCESS OF WALES, At Devonport, July 23rd 1903. Rear-Admiral W. H. Henderson, Admiral-Superintendent; J. Black, esq., R C. N. C., Chief Constructor. Length between perpendiculars, 425 feet; breadth, extreme 78 feet; displacement in tons, 16,350; draught, forward 25ft 3in; aft 27ft, 3in. ; speed, 18.5 knots; indicated horse- power, 18,000. There is a detailed account of the casket being presented to the Princess of Wales, as well as an account of each piece in the casket in The Naval and Military Record, 23rd of July 1903. There was also a shorter article in the Whitby Gazette, 31st of July 1903, which included a lithographic representation of the casket (see insert).