Formal Dining ware Butter Dish, believed to be Ex N.Z. Government House

George VI (14 Dec 1895 – 6 Feb 1952) was King of the UK & the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 Dec 1936 until his death 6 Feb 1952

He was also the last Emperor of India from 1936 until the British Raj was dissolved in August 1947 & the first head of the Commonwealth following the London Declaration of 1949

The future George VI was born during the reign of his great-grandmother Queen Victoria; he was named Albert at birth after his great-grandfather Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg & Gotha & was known as "Bertie" to his family & close friends

His father ascended the throne as George V in 1910

As the 2nd son of the king, Albert was not expected to inherit the throne. He spent his early life in the shadow of his elder brother, Edward, the heir apparent

Albert attended naval college as a teenager & served in the Royal Navy & Royal Air Force during WW1

In 1920, he was made Duke of York

He married Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon in 1923, & they had 2 daughters, Elizabeth & Margaret

In the mid-1920s, he engaged speech therapist Lionel Logue to treat his stutter, which he learned to manage to some degree

His elder brother ascended the throne as Edward VIII after their father died in 1936, but Edward abdicated later that year to marry the twice-divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson. As heir presumptive to Edward VIII, Albert became king, taking the regnal name George VI

In Sept 1939, the British Empire & most Commonwealth countries—but not Ireland—declared war on Nazi Germany, following the invasion of Poland

War with the Kingdom of Italy & the Empire of Japan followed in 1940 & 1941, respectively

George VI was seen as sharing the hardships of the common people & his popularity soared

Buckingham Palace was bombed during the Blitz while the King & Queen were there, & his younger brother the Duke of Kent was killed on active service

NO damage NO restoration Base plate shows heavy age-related crazing