Sir Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington's Silk Handkerchief, Framed

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Sir Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington's Silk Handkerchief, Framed with Portrait Engraving and Provenance Letter, circa 1820–1850, in Giltwood … Read more Sir Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington's Silk Handkerchief, Framed with Portrait Engraving and Provenance Letter, circa 1820–1850, in Giltwood Frame with Glass

Sir Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington's Silk Handkerchief

A rare and historically significant artifact: an original silk scarf attributed to Sir Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1769–1852), the hero of Waterloo and one of Britain’s most esteemed military and political figures. Finely woven and preserved under glass in a period giltwood shadowbox frame, this handkerchief is accompanied by a period portrait engraving and a handwritten letter of provenance documenting its origin.

The scarf, measuring approximately 15” x 13”, is crafted from a delicate, ivory-toned, hand-loomed silk and bears an embroidered crowned “W” monogram in the upper corner—an aristocratic cipher indicative of Wellington’s personal belongings. Its refined simplicity reflects the Duke’s known preference for understated elegance and strict sartorial discipline, in keeping with Regency sensibilities.

Beneath the textile, mounted on a rich plum textile ground, is a period steel engraving (4.5” x 7”) titled “Sir Arthur Wellesley / The Rt Hon. the Duke of Wellington,” showing the Duke in civilian attire, likely dating to the 1830s–1840s.

The entire presentation is housed in a giltwood frame measuring 17” high x 16” wide, with original gilding, minor age-related surface wear, and intact glazing.

What distinguishes this relic further is the extraordinary handwritten account that accompanies it, penned by Lady Maud Wilbraham (granddaughter of the Earl of Lathom), detailing the scarf’s chain of custody:

Transcription of accompanying letter of provenance:

“Duke of Wellington’s Hdkf.
This cambric hdkf has a very small W. & ducal coronet embroidered in one corner. The Duke of Wellington (the Iron Duke), passing down the staircase at a reception at Baroness Burdett Coutts's house in London, dropped his handkerchief. Mrs. John Parker picked it up & longed to keep it but thought it more honest to return it, so she ran after the Duke & offered it back to him. He saw her copying & with great courtesy asked if she would accept it—naturally she did.

This was about the year 1840. In the year 1892, she gave it to her nephew, Col. Granville Grenon, who presented it to me for the little summer box I had this summer.”

(signed)
Maud B. Wilbraham
26 Lower Sloane Street, S. Kensington, S.W. 1, London
(Granddaughter of the Earl of Lathom)

The account suggests the scarf was dropped by Wellington at a reception hosted by Baroness Angela Burdett-Coutts—one of the wealthiest women in Victorian England and a noted philanthropist. Upon returning it to the Duke, Mrs. Parker was encouraged to keep it as a gift, an exchange recounted with charm and vivid personal recollection. The letter documents the scarf’s subsequent transfer through familial hands until it reached Lady Wilbraham in the late 19th century.

Condition:
The scarf displays light foxing, toning, and minor handling wear consistent with age. The embroidery remains intact and legible. The frame retains its original gilded finish with expected surface wear; the glass is intact.

Provenance:
Documented in a signed letter by Lady Maud Wilbraham, granddaughter of the Earl of Lathom, dated to 1892 and referencing earlier ownership by Mrs. John Parker and Col. Granville Grenon. From a private English estate with connections to Wellington memorabilia.

A singular and evocative artifact from the Regency and Napoleonic eras, this framed scarf—with its monogram, period portrait, and rare chain of provenance—offers collectors, institutions, and historians a remarkable opportunity to acquire a personal object associated with one of Britain’s greatest national heroes. See less