The White Lion of Mortimer

myminifactory

This sculpture represents The White Lion of Mortimer, one of Queen Elizabeth II's iconic Queen's Beasts. The original ten heraldic statues were designed by renowned sculptor James Woodford for the 1953 coronation ceremony and produced by the Ministry of Works. A decision was made to gift them to a Commonwealth government, with Canada being offered the Beasts in 1959; they accepted, and now stand at the Canadian Museum of History in Quebec. In 1956, a replica set was created from Portland stone by James Woodford and presented to Kew, where visitors approaching the Palm House are greeted by these sculptures. The White Lion of Mortimer descends through Queen Elizabeth II from Edward IV, showcasing a shield featuring a white rose encircled by a golden sun - known heraldically as a 'white rose en soleil'. This combination is actually two distinct badges that appear on the Great Seals of Edward IV and Richard III and were also used by George VI when Duke of York. Unlike The Lion of England, this beast remains uncrowned.