[53] Pair of English Green Silk Brocaded Trousers once Worn by Sir Jeffrey Hudson (1619 –1682) Court Dwarf to Queen Henrietta Maria, Wife of King Charles I Together with an old inscribed card from the Marquess of Abercorn reading : Worn by the Celebrated Sir Geoffrey Hudson Charles II’s Dwarf 17th Century
s i z e : approx : 29 cm high, 33 cm wide – 11½ ins high, 13 ins wide p rov e na nc e : Ex Private collection of the Late Eila Grahame (1935–2009) proud descendant of the Grahames of Duntrune and Claverhouse Renowned at court for his fine, perfect proportions and extremely diminutive size, Sir Jeffrey Hudson was the favourite court dwarf to Queen Henrietta Maria. His height was recorded as 45 cms (19.5ins) and came first to the Queen’s notice when he was served up in a pie wearing a miniature suit of armour. Known as the Queen’s dwarf and Lord Minimus he was considered one of the wonders of the age. He was painted by Van Dyck standing with the Queen, her pet capuchin monkey pug on his arm. In 1626 he moved into Denmark House in London where the Queen’s royal household was maintained. He became the companion of William Evans, a giant Welsh porter and they developed a routine where Evans would pull him out of his pocket along with a loaf of bread and proceed to make him into a sandwich. Hudson entertained the court with his wit and often performed roles in elaborate costumed masques which were staged by Inigo Jones. Although dwarves were not rare in the seventeenth century courts of Europe, his tiny size made him uniquely famous.