A German silver and parcel gilt centrepiece comprising a large lobed vase and cover with crown finial, each lobe engraved with a coat of arms of Queen Victoria's children and grandchildren, their names inscribed on a banderole below. The vase, on a plateau base engraved with strapwork, is flanked by statuettes of a lion and a unicorn, each on a oval rocky base. The plateau has an ovolo border and is mounted with a crowned VR cipher (in enamel). It rests on two semi-circular feet cast with foliage.

The celebrations for Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee included a luncheon in Buckingham Palace with representatives of many of the royal families of Europe. The following day, which Victoria herself described as 'very eventful', a service was held in Westminster Abbey: 'The scene outside was most animated and reminded me of the opening of the Great Exhibition which also took place on a very fine day' (Journal, 21 June 1887). After a family luncheon and a review of the troops from the balcony, the Queen recorded that 'we went into the small Ball Room, where the present given me by all my children was placed. It is a very handsome piece of plate'.

The centrepiece is the work of the Friedlander brothers of Berlin, who worked for the Prussian court. The company was founded in 1829 by ZL Friedlander, who acted as warden  of the Imperial mint to Friedrich Wilhelm I. Three generations of the family succeeded him, running the premises on Unter den Linden in Berlin, and receiving the royal warrant as jewellers to Princess Louise, the sister of the Kaiser. In the late nineteenth century the company worked in an eclectic range of styles and specialised in monumental centrepieces.

Vase struck with standard mark (.925 silver) and GEBR FRIEDLANDER; base engraved, TO A BELOVED MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER QUEEN VICTORIA IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF HER REIGN FROM HER CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN; base stamped, GEBR. FRIEDLANDER BERLIN fec; each lobe engraved with coats of arms of Queen Victoria's children and grandchildren.