Object of the Month: May 2023
Coronation Mugs
Published: 1 May 2023
Chosen by: The Collections Team
Collection: Social History
Object Name: Coronation Mugs
King Edward VII, King George VI, Queen Elizabeth II
Donated in memory of Peggy Beasley née Smith
King Charles III mug
Collected 2023
![](/media/53qegl1o/dsc_0118.jpg)
The earliest known royal commemorative ceramics date back to the 17th century. It is believed that in 1661, Charles II was the first monarch to have his coronation commemorated on a ceramic. His coronation signified the restoration of the monarchy after the English Civil War, and the end of the English republic, which existed from 1649-1660.
The majority of the mugs in this case were collected by generations of women from a local Leicester family. They have been cared for and handed down until 2022 when they became part of the museum collection.
![](/media/lkobkn1g/h51-2022-1-5.jpg)
These Objects of the Month can be seen in person throughout May at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery.
Gallery
![H51 2022 1 0](/media/yvajafds/h51-2022-1-0.jpg)
![H51 2022 2 0](/media/222nybht/h51-2022-2-0.jpg)
![H51 2022 3 0](/media/rjtlmfmw/h51-2022-3-0.jpg)
![H51 2022 4 0](/media/fnbej2ww/h51-2022-4-0.jpg)
![Dsc 0118](/media/53qegl1o/dsc_0118.jpg)
![Dsc 0117](/media/qnfnpkvx/dsc_0117.jpg)