The Waterloo Vase

Started by LouisFerdinand, October 26, 2016, 11:52:02 PM

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LouisFerdinand

The Waterloo Vase is on the grounds of Buckingham Palace. The vase is a fifteen foot high marble urn commissioned by Napoleon in Tuscany, and presented to King George IV after Waterloo.   


LouisFerdinand

The white Carrara marble from which it is made caught Napoleon's eye when he was passing through Tuscany on his way to invade Russia in 1812. He ordered it to be hewn into a vase with plain, uncarved panels. These would be filled with scenes of his future victories. Instead, after the French retreat from Russia and defeat at Waterloo on June 18, 1815, it was the triumphs of the Duke of Wellington that ultimately adorned the Waterloo Vase.