From the Collection August 2018
A special gift to Percy from the King Haakon VII and Queen Maud of Norway, during his 1910 tour.
Tie pin presented to Percy Grainger by the King and Queen of Norway, c.1910
Made by David-Andersen, Christiania, Norway. Grainger Museum Collection, 01.0397. Photograph by Lee McRae
In 1905, Percy Grainger presented his first Royal Command Performance before Queen Alexandra at Buckingham Palace, London. As his fame spread and his career took off, further performances for European royalty soon followed, including the King and Queen of Denmark in Copenhagen in 1905, and the King and Queen of Norway in 1910. Composer Edvard Grieg and his wife Nina helped Grainger make connections in Norway, as he developed his touring schedules in this period. Nina Grieg arranged an introduction for Grainger to the King and Queen of Norway.
Nina Grieg wrote to Rose while Percy was on tour in Norway in 1910,
‘Dear Mrs Grainger!
Your son is here, good and kind, nice and wonderful as ever and plays beyond all description and all praise. He is fond of Norway and certainly Norway loves him. I had a word from our Queen by one of her Ladies telling me she was so thankful to me for having introduced Percy Grainger to her, she found him an artist as wonderful as he was sympathetique [sic.] and fascinating as [sic.] personality. She was happy having made his acquaintance. Was not that nice?’
Tie pin presented to Percy Grainger by the King and Queen of Norway, c.1910
Made by David-Andersen, Christiania, Norway. Grainger Museum Collection, 01.0397. Photograph by Lee McRae
The Adelaide Observer reported in February 1910: ‘King Haakon VII, and Queen Maud of Norway have attended two recitals by brilliant Australian pianist, Percy Grainger, at Christiania. Their Majesties expressed themselves delighted with his playing, and presented him with a handsome souvenir.’
This diamond-studded tie pin is the gift that was presented to Grainger. It will be on display as part of the forthcoming exhibition ‘Objects of Fame: Nellie Melba and Percy Grainger’.
- Dr Heather Gaunt, Grainger Museum Curator, Collections and Exhibitions