Collection of items related to royal milliner Kate Day, £2100 at Chilcotts.
Her designs were pivotal to Elizabeth’s early, elegant style and were seen at many events and royal visits. She was the only milliner to receive a Royal Warrant in the young queen’s first year.
Day was one of three milliners whose creations were worn during the royal visit to Australia in 1954.
A collection of items related to Day came up for auction at Honiton, Devon, saleroom Chilcotts (21% buyer’s premium) on March 11 estimated together at £600-800. They sold at £2100.
They included a circular gold brooch, the centre monogrammed E II R, surmounted with an enamelled crown and decorated with a pearl set ribboned bow. A gift to thank Day for her designs, it was still in its original red leather presentation case from the Crown Jewellers of the time, Collingwood.
She worked out of a discreet studio in Mount Street, Mayfair; while she did not have a shop front, she did have the Royal Warrant sign and another, stating By Appointment to HM Queen Elizabeth II, Milliners in gold lettering, which were displayed inside the premises. Both were included in the collection.
