Bust, commemorative bust

Hollow cast lead bust of King Edward VII dressed in his Coronation robes. The bust, painted gold would originally have had a crown but this is now missing. The back of the figure has the maker's name William Britain Junior and the patent date 1.8.1901. This coronation souvenir was purchased by Ernest King for one penny from a London street trader on 29th January 1902. Ernest King first purchased a souvenir commemorating the coronation of King Edward VII in August 1901, nearly a year before the ceremony took place. However, he did not purchase a second souvenir until January 1902 and between this date and the original coronation date of 26th June 1902 the steady rise in his purchases indicates that the range and variety of souvenirs sold by street traders gradually increased over these months reaching a peak on 25th June. Although the Coronation was delayed until August due to the King being struck down with appendicitis on 24th June Ernest King only purchased one coronation souvenir after the 25th June. This suggests that manufacturers stopped producing souvenirs after June presumably assuming Londoner's enthusiasm for souvenirs and the coronation had reached a peak by this point.