Historic Royal Palaces has teamed up with Olympia Le-Tan to create three new designs for the brand’s signature book clutch – inspired by the Royal Beasts and heraldic emblems of Hampton Court Palace.
Each clutch is hand-embroidered with silk thread and felt appliqué – a process which takes up to 300 hours. Every piece is individually numbered and limited to just 77 editions.
The three designs include the Tudor Rose, which combined the white rose of the House of York with the red rose of the House of Lancaster, symbolising the union of the two houses under Henry VII. It appears throughout Hampton Court Palace and remains a national emblem, seen on modern coinage and the Yeoman Warders’ ceremonial red uniforms at the Tower of London.
Meanwhile, the Seymour Panther is one of eight Royal Tudor Beasts in the Chapel Court Garden at Hampton Court Palace. As Jane Seymour rose to favour, Henry VIII had Anne Boleyn’s leopard transformed into a flame-breathing panther. Such heraldic creatures signalled lineage, loyalty and status.
Finally, the Lion of England, another Royal Tudor Beast in the Chapel Court Garden, has represented English royalty since the 12th century. Prominent under Richard the Lionheart, it helped shape the familiar ‘three lions’ and appears throughout Hampton Court Palace and on the Yeoman Warders’ daily navy uniforms.
“We’re proud to continue our licensing partnership with the brand Olympia Le-Tan and see details from our palaces and stories reimagined as beautifully handcrafted accessories,” commented Jenny Smyth, licensing manager at Historic Royal Palaces. “The collection brings the past to life through exceptional products for today.”
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