Beschreibung:

AN IMPORTANT GERMAN ROYAL JEWELLED ENAMELLED GOLD PRESENTATION SNUFF-BOX HANAU, CIRCA 1860, RETAILED BY GARRARD & CO., LONDON rectangular box with waisted baluster sides, the cover with translucent blue guilloché enamel and centred with an oval glazed watercolour miniature, on card, of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII (1901-1910), a jewelled and red enamelled Royal crown above, within a silver-mounted diamond surround with cast flowerhead and ribbon-tied laurel border, with four silver-mounted old-cut diamonds at each corner and gold-mounted rose-cut diamond initials A E, surrounded by cast gold trailing foliage and floral sprays, the sides and base with similarly cast and chased vari-colour gold foliate decoration on a sablé gold ground, applied enamelled gold thumbpiece formed as the badge of the Star of India, the interior of the cover engraved with the inscription ' H.R.H. ALBERT EDWARD, PRINCE OF WALES, / TO / MAJOR GEN SIR S.J. BROWNE, / BOMBAY, / MARCH 9th 1876', in fitted blue velvet case, the interior cover stamped R & S GARRARD & CO / Goldsmiths & Jewellers / TO THE CROWN / 25, HAYMARKET LONDON 3½ in. (90 mm.) wide Provenance Personally presented to General Sir Samuel James Browne VC GCB KCSI by Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, as a gift at the end of the Prince's tour of India 1875-1876. Thence by family descent. Christie's, London, 27-28 November 2012, lot 563.