Sitter: Mrs. John Sutherland Harmood-Banner, later Lady Ella Harmood-Banner, née Linford (d.1954).

Mrs. Harmood-Banner (1882-1954), née Ella Linford, was a 26-year old widow when, in 1908, she married, as his second wife, the 60-year old John Sutherland Harmood-Banner, an accountant, financial adviser, steel-maker and politician from Liverpool. He was elected Lord Mayor of Liverpool 1912-13 and that was most probably the reason of his and his wife’s attendance at the Court on 7 February 1913. 

Mrs. Harmood-Banner is seen here dressed in what the fashionable press called “the Moyen Age Style”, in a gown by Paquin of ivory tinted broché with a scarf of Malines lace forming the sleeves. She has a train of gold and powder-blue broché lined with cloth of gold and ornamented with a long spray of trailing roses and foliage of gold gauze. She also wears pearl earrings, a pearl necklace, and a high scrollwork diamond tiara. 

A few months after this event, in July 1913, she became Lady Harmood-Banner after King George V knighted her husband during the Royal visit to Liverpool.

Sir John Sutherland Harmood-Banner’s merits earned him a further elevation in 1924 when he was created a Baronet.

Biog: Daughter of John Ernest Herbert Linford, of Thorpe, Norfolk; m. (1908), as his 2nd wife, Sir John Sutherland Harmood-Banner, Kt. (cr. 11 July 1913), 1st Bt. (cr. 1924), Lord Mayor of the City of Liverpool (1912), M.P. for Everton Div. of Liverpool (1905-24).

Date: 7 February 1913.

Occasion: The Court, 7 February 1913: presented by the Countess of Derby.

Location: The Lafayette Studio, 179 New Bond Street, London.

Descr: FL standing.

Costume: Court Dress: "A gown of ivory tinted broché with a scarf of Malines lace forming the sleeves, and at the left side continuing the line on to the skirt where it was draped and caught with ivory silk tassels together with the softly-draped folds of the skirt. Train of gold and powder-blue broché lined with cloth of gold and ornamented with a long spray of trailing roses and foliage of gold gauze. Goodyear bouquet" (see: The Court Journal, 13 February 1913, p 192b).

Costume Designer & Supplier: Paquin Ltd., 39 Dover Street, London.

Jewellery: -

Furniture & Props: Painted backdrop; Rococo high-backed armchair; Louis XVI style giltwood footstool; side-table.

Evidence of photographer at work: -

No of poses: 1. See husband:

Copyright: V&A

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Provenance: Pinewood Studios; acquired 1989.

Biog: Burke's Peerage; The Times, 4 March 1954, p 10f.

Occasion: The Times, 10 February 1913, p 10b.

Costume: The Court Journal, 13 February 1913, p 192b.

Costume Designer & Supplier: The Court Journal, 13 February 1913, p 192b.

Jewellery: -

Reproduced: -