MS 682 06
Reference code
MS 682 06
Title
Artefacts that belonged to Robert Browning and family
Level
File
Date
[19th century]
Extent & medium
c.30 items
Content description
A collection of artefacts that belonged to Robert Browning and family.
There is Elizabeth Barrett-Browning's engagement ring. This is a heart-shaped diamond ring, 18th century, given by Robert Browning to Elizabeth Barrett in 1846. It was given to Robert Browning by his mother.
In terms of objects owned by Robert Browning personally, there are two pieces of Victorian majolica given by Browning to F. J. Furnivall, an Indian dagger and scabbard, a side plate used at 29 De Vere Gardens, Kensington and Robert Browning's calling-card case. This is possibly snakeskin with nine calling cards inside, including two from Dickens and two from Tennyson. There is also an individual case of silhouettes (of RB, EBB and Pen) made by J. Turner at Casa Guidi in May 1853 and 'The clasped hands' - a bronze cast of Robert and Elizabeth's clasped hands made by Harriet Hosmer in Rome, 1853.
The collection also includes artefacts that belonged to the Browning family more generally. It has a collection of eight metal and stone seals bearing emblems for making impressions in wax, retained from Robert Barrett-Browning's estate, and the seal of Robert Browning's father. It also has four miniatures of unknown people that belonged to the family (part of the Baddeley gift).
The collection also includes two lockets containing Robert Browning's hair. One was given by Robert Barrett-Browning to George Smith, publisher, after Browning's funeral. The other belonged to Mrs Bronson. Finally, there is a memorial brooch made of enamel and gold, surrounded by 34 seed pearls, containing a lock of Robert Browning's grandfather's hair, entwined with hair of William Henry Fleming. It previously belonged to Reuben Browning.
Additionally there are four books that were given to the Eton College Library Browning collection by Vincent Baddeley. These books belonged to Robert Browning and earlier generations as their ownership inscriptions suggest. More details can be found in the individual records listed below:
Ky.7.01: The book of common prayer, 1801.
Ky.7.02: The practice of pietie, Delff : Michiel Stael, 1648.
Ky.7.03: An almanack for the year of our Lord God 1667 by John Goldsmith, London : printed by T. R. for the Company of Stationers, 1667.
Ky.7.04: The new testament, 1841.
There is Elizabeth Barrett-Browning's engagement ring. This is a heart-shaped diamond ring, 18th century, given by Robert Browning to Elizabeth Barrett in 1846. It was given to Robert Browning by his mother.
In terms of objects owned by Robert Browning personally, there are two pieces of Victorian majolica given by Browning to F. J. Furnivall, an Indian dagger and scabbard, a side plate used at 29 De Vere Gardens, Kensington and Robert Browning's calling-card case. This is possibly snakeskin with nine calling cards inside, including two from Dickens and two from Tennyson. There is also an individual case of silhouettes (of RB, EBB and Pen) made by J. Turner at Casa Guidi in May 1853 and 'The clasped hands' - a bronze cast of Robert and Elizabeth's clasped hands made by Harriet Hosmer in Rome, 1853.
The collection also includes artefacts that belonged to the Browning family more generally. It has a collection of eight metal and stone seals bearing emblems for making impressions in wax, retained from Robert Barrett-Browning's estate, and the seal of Robert Browning's father. It also has four miniatures of unknown people that belonged to the family (part of the Baddeley gift).
The collection also includes two lockets containing Robert Browning's hair. One was given by Robert Barrett-Browning to George Smith, publisher, after Browning's funeral. The other belonged to Mrs Bronson. Finally, there is a memorial brooch made of enamel and gold, surrounded by 34 seed pearls, containing a lock of Robert Browning's grandfather's hair, entwined with hair of William Henry Fleming. It previously belonged to Reuben Browning.
Additionally there are four books that were given to the Eton College Library Browning collection by Vincent Baddeley. These books belonged to Robert Browning and earlier generations as their ownership inscriptions suggest. More details can be found in the individual records listed below:
Ky.7.01: The book of common prayer, 1801.
Ky.7.02: The practice of pietie, Delff : Michiel Stael, 1648.
Ky.7.03: An almanack for the year of our Lord God 1667 by John Goldsmith, London : printed by T. R. for the Company of Stationers, 1667.
Ky.7.04: The new testament, 1841.
Provenance
The majolica came to Eton through The Browning Institute. The seal of Robert Browning's father and the memorial brooch containing his grandfather's hair are part of the Baddeley gift. Baddeley was an indirect descendent of Robert Browning.
Associated material
Various artefacts are also housed in Casa Guidi. This inlcudes a mirror calalogued under the reference: FDA-A.1047-2020
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Number 6 of 8 at this Level
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