THE KING'S TREASURES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1861, 22 September 1913, Page 5

THE KING'S TREASURES.

During the renovations now in pro gress at Buckingham Palace, special precautions, according to the "Westminster Gazette," are to be taken for guarding the treasure vaults on the basement floor of the Palaoe. Few people even know of the existenco of these vaults. They are three in number, and their contents are of almost fabulous value, comprising the vast accumulation of jewels, armour, statuary, pictures, furniture, and other art objects which have oomo into the possession of the Koyal Family through various channels during the past two centimes, and for which no accommodation can be found in the public and State apartments of tho lloyal residences. Two o'f tho vaults'are of immense size, the largest measuring 800 ft. by 260 ft. These jaro U6ed for the storage of furniture, pictures, etc. The third vault, muoh smaller and steellined throughout, is the jovel-room. The contents of this third vault may almost be termed priceless. Of gold ornaments alone thero are over six thousand. weighing considerably over a ton in all, and many individual items would fetch thousands of pounds in the open market: Most of these treasures camo to Queen Victoria as gifts from other Sovereigns. Every single object in this vault is catalogued, and the whole collection is checked once a yoar under the supervision of tho Keeper of tho Privy Purse.