Royal Pets
There has been a long tradition of the Royal Family keeping pets
Centrepiece
1842/3RCIN 1570
This centrepiece features a model of Islay, one of Queen Victoria's favourite terriers, standing on his hind legs. She described him as: 'a darling little fellow, yellow brindled, rough long hair, very short legs and a large, long, intelligent good face’.
Prince Albert designed the elaborate centrepiece in collaboration with the jewellery firm Garrard & Co. As well as Islay, the design incorporates models of other favourite royal dogs including the greyhound Eos and the terrier Cairnach. It was displayed at the Great Exhibition in 1851. Islay appears in the same pose in the painting Windsor Castle in Modern Times by Sir Edwin Landseer.