Pelham Puppet redressed as Queen Katherine Howard - fifth wife of Henry VIII

 Katherine Howard, the tragic fifth wife of King Henry VIII

recreated in puppet miniature.

-Now Sold-

Katherine Howard was born into one of the Tudor eras most important aristocratic families, yet her father was impoverished and she was educated in the household of her wealthy step-grandmother, the Dowager Duchess of Norfolk. It was there that she had two relationship with young men in the Duchess's employ - one of which led to the loss of her virginity. 

Despite this (her step-grandmother was not made aware of the extent of Katherine's sexual dalliances at the time) when the new Queen, Anne of Cleves, forth wife to King Henry came to the English court Katherine was introduced to the Queen's household as a lady in waiting.

It was here that Katherine stole the attention and admiration of the far older King and when he shortly decided that he wanted a divorce from Queen Anne, Katherine was his choice to replace his current wife. They were swiftly married and Katherine ruled for just over a year - but when it was revealed that Katherine had been having an affair with a young, handsome courtier, as well has the discovery of her past indiscretions, Katherine was arrested and was found guilty of adultery and treason.

She was taken to the Tower of London and was beheaded by the axe: she is unlikely to have been older than twenty years old.

This puppet uses a Pelham Puppet Fairy as a base.

Her main over gown is cut from plush cotton velvet trimmed with gold metallic braid and pearls. It is fully lined in silver taffeta and her corset laced bodice is fully boned. Her under skirt and under sleeves are crafted from a peach taffeta decorated by metallic gold embroidery and she sports a velvet French hood, stiffened with buckram and trimmed with gold and pearls. A taffeta veil hangs down her back. Her voluminous sleeves are lined with a soft faux fur and a beaded pomander hangs from a chain at her waist.

Her hair has been restyled and her face retouched using enamel and acrylic paints.

Created by Alexander Sanderson Designs