Sandbanks Antiques has dated this Framed Royal Pastel Portrait to the 1930s.

This striking piece captures a uniquely charismatic and informal depiction of H.R.H. The Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII / "David") in his Royal Navy uniform. Rendered with brilliant draughtsmanship, the portrait presents the future king with a cheeky, confident grin, a cigarette clamped jauntily in his teeth, and wisps of smoke curling delicately upward against a dark textured ground.

Technique, Palette & Lifelikeness:
Drawn on a deep brown-grey art paper, the artist utilizes a brilliant contrast of rich charcoals and vivid pastels. The chalk handling is exceptionally skilled—particularly in the bright whites of the crisp collar, the stark glare on the naval cap visor, and the gleaming highlights of the teeth and eyes. It is an extraordinary visual translation of the iconic W&K London photographic postcard of the era, capturing an uncanny likeness while injecting a tangible, tactile warmth and artistic life that mechanical reproduction simply cannot match.

Condition & Framing:
Presented in immaculate, display-ready condition, the artwork has been housed in a sleek modern frame that complements its rich tones and generous proportions. Measuring an impressive 85cm x 65cm framed, it possesses a commanding gallery presence, making it an absolute anchor piece for a room.

Artist & Provenance:
Clearly hand-signed and dated "Herskind / Sept. 1931" on the lower right, this one-off interwar tribute piece stands as a wonderful piece of royal ephemera and a witty, irreverent deviation from formal, stiff court portraiture.

A fantastic conversation piece for collectors of British royalty, interwar culture, and striking statement art.
Provenance: From a Private UK Collection, Acquired ("By Repute") as a presentation piece/gift linked to Edward Prince of Wales circa 1931 (Unverified).

Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David
Collector's Note on Rarity:
Surviving large-format, hand-rendered studio pastels of this era are exceptionally scarce. While official oils and mass-market photographic prints of the Prince of Wales populate institutional collections, independent, one-off studio tributes by artists like Herskind rarely emerge on the market—making this a singular survival of interwar visual culture.
Sandbanks Antiques has dated this Framed Royal Pastel Portrait to the 1930s.
Specialising in antique silver, gold boxes, gold coins and objects de vertu. Rare fine-quality imperial chinese porcelain, jades, cloisonné
You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Sandbanks Antiques Profile Page