Jewellery, Watches, Silver & Objects of Vertu

Of Royal interest: A silver presentation slipper, with pointed toe, shaped heal, and decorated with a bow, engraved with presentation inscription: “From Princess Maud to Mary Beck for good luck March 1904”, the heal initialled ‘M’, by maker Sibray, Hall & Co. Ltd (Charles Clement Pilling), London 1902, length 24cm. £600-£800

Princess Maud was the youngest daughter of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. In 1895 she married Prince Carl of Denmark and the couple moved to Bernsorff Palace near Copenhagen. Maud often returned home to England staying at Appleton House on the Sandringham estate, which had been given to her after her marriage and it was at Appleton House that Maud gave birth to their only child Alexander on 2 July 1903. Her husband became King of Norway in 1905, and Maud took the title of Queen.

Mary Plumpton Wilson, of Dersingham, Norfolk, married Frank Reginald Beck in 1891. Frank was the land agent at the Sandringham estate from 1891 until his death in 1915. He is chiefly remembered for setting up the Sandringham Company of Volunteers, of which he was appointed first Captain in 19 May 1906. He and the entire company was killed in action at Gallipoli on 12 August 1915. His widow appears to have gone into Royal service in 1916.

Mary and Frank Beck had five daughters and one son, who died in infancy.
This little silver slipper may have been a royal gift to Mary, perhaps to one of her children.