A handsome silver vase, with cover, has been presented by Commander Betton Sayce, R.N., Royal Naval Volunteers, to the officers’ mess of the Bristol Brigade, in honour of the visit of Prince Albert Victor of Wales to that city, in July last year, to distribute prizes and to be present at the unveiling of her Majesty's Jubilee statue on College-green.
The vase, of solid silver, stands 27 inches high, rising from a fluted and chased stand. The body, of globular form, is richly chased with scrollwork, representing, on one side, the interior of a gun-turret on board of an ironclad, with gunners in their several occupations ; on the other side bearing a suitable inscription. The scroll-shaped handles, supported at their base by mermaids, are tastefully designed ; and the cover is an important feature of the work. It is surmounted by the figure of his Royal Highness in the costume of a midshipman of the Royal Navy, which is modelled with skill, and is an excellent likeness.
The design and execution of this work are very creditable to the Bristol Goldsmiths’ Alliance, by whom the vase was manufactured.
Source: The Illustrated London News - 25th May 1889
Trev.
