Order of the Thistle from the collection of Edinburgh Castle

This superb badge of the Order of the Thistle, traditionally associated with James II and VII, was bequeathed to George, Prince of Wales, by Henry Benedict, Cardinal York (younger brother of Prince Charles Edward Stuart, the Young Pretender) in 1807. It has always been assumed that the badge was made for James II at the reinstitution of the Order in 1687 and subsequently taken by him to France in 1688. However, the badge does not appear in the posthumous inventory of the King’s possessions drawn up at Saint-Germain in 1703. Originally made as a Garter badge for James II and VII, when Duke of York; Prince James Edward Stuart; by whom converted into its present form; by descent to Prince Henry Benedict Stuart, Cardinal York; by whom bequeathed to George, Prince of Wales, 1807.​

Gold, silver, onyx, enamel, ivory, diamonds.
Size 65 x 40 mm.

 

"The portrait miniature of Princess Louise of Stolberg-Gedern probably takes the place of an earlier miniature and was almost certainly added following her marriage to Prince Charles Edward Stuart in 1772. The miniature may be after a full-length miniature of Louise by Carlo Marsigli (worked in Italy, died in Naples 1807) of which a full-length version, signed and dated 1774, is in the Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore. The miniature was probably introduced in 1774, two years after the Princess’s marriage to the Prince and possibly when they moved from Rome to Florence. The scratched date 1774 appears within and is possibly associated with the scratched AR below the date. A third scratchmark, JP, concealed behind the miniature remains unexplained. The hinged lid covering the miniature is technically more crudely made than the motto and stylistically appears to be from the later eighteenth century, probably replacing the original cover. It is not known what pre-dated the miniature when the badge was converted from a Garter badge but other late seventeenth century Garter badges are backed by enamel or chased gold images of St. George and the dragon."​

Ancient and Modern Gems and Jewels in the Collection of Her Majesty The Queen, London, 2008​