Tudor Queens’ Jewellery at event
An exclusive event at the National Portrait Gallery’s Six Lives exhibition to explore the jewellery of Henry VIII’s wives will be hosted by North Yorkshire auction house Tennants Auctioneers.
The ticketed, private event will be led by historian Dr Nicola Tallis. Guests will also enjoy a lunch in Mayfair and a talk by Dr Tallis who contributed her jewellery expertise to the accompanying exhibition book.
Tallis’ doctorate examined the jewellery collections of the queens of England from 1445-1548 and she is fittingly the author of a book on the same subject. All the Queen’s Jewels, 1445–1548: Power, Majesty and Display From Margaret of Anjou to Katherine Parr, examines the jewellery collections of the ten queen consorts of England between 1445–1548.
The National Portrait Gallery’s Six Lives exhibition is listed as chronicling the representation of Katherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard and Katherine Parr throughout history and popular culture in the centuries since they lived.
Guests at this event will have the chance to critically examine historic paintings, drawings, and ephemera, as well as contemporary photography, costume and film through a lens focused on material culture. They will be guided by Dr Tallis as she highlights key pieces in the exhibition and explains the links to their jewellery collections.
Following the private tour, the talk portion of this event will look at the jewels on display in the exhibition and the extensive collections of jewels to which these six queens had access. It will show how, during this time, jewels were a vital tool that enabled queens to shape their identities as consorts and fashioned images of power. After the talk, guests will be able to discuss the exhibition and the talk with Dr Tallis and Fellows’ jewellery specialists where they can explore the varying contexts in which the queens used and wore jewels.
The ticket, priced at £200 as an early bird offer, also includes lunch and refreshments, as well as a signed copy of the exhibition book and a goody bag as a souvenir.
The Head of Events at the auction house said, “I am delighted that we have been able to put together such an interesting programme for our guests. This is a truly one-of-a-kind event, combining Fellows’ specialist jewellery knowledge with exclusive, private access to an amazing exhibition and Dr Tallis’ expertise on the Tudor queens’ jewellery collections.”