M1441 - Coat of arms for the Royal Toxophilite Society
A cast metal decorated archery mount for the Royal Toxophilite Society, surmounted by the crowned royal coat of arms, painted in gilt polychrome over cast metal. The Royal Toxophilite Society, the oldest and, for many years the most influential English Archery Club, was founded as the Toxophilite Society on the 3rd April 1781 by Sir Ashton Lever, a Lancashire aristocrat, business man and sportsman, and Thomas Waring, Superintendent of Sir Ashtons “Museum of Collections” in Leicester House, London. 
They were quickly joined by the remaining members of the Finsbury Archers, who had not shot since 1763, and an eclectic mixture of Military Men, Clerics, Authors and Politicians numbering sixteen in total.
In 1787 HRH the Prince of Wales became the first Royal Patron establishing a tradition which continues to this day.  The most recent occasion on which the Society has been graced with the presence of their Royal Patron was at a shoot in Windsor Great Park attended by HM Queen Elizabeth II in July 2013.
The Society thrived, by 1791 it had 170 members but it was not to last, by 1817 due mainly to the effects of the Napoleonic wars membership was down to only 16. Nevertheless, the Royal Toxophilite Society has survived, being one of only five out of more than 30 such organisations to do so.  
Size: 32 x 36 cm