Decorative

AN IMPORTANT GEORGE III ROYAL PRESENTATION GOLD ...

A rare and well-preserved example of 1800 from circa 1810, noted for its craftsmanship, material quality, and historical relevance.

A magnificent example of Regency craftsmanship, this solid gold snuff box is of rectangular form with rounded corners, featuring exquisite all-over guilloché engine-turning. The lid is centred by a superb, applied diamond-set royal cypher of King George III (GR), surmounted by the Imperial Crown. The borders are further refined with chased foliate and entrelac-de-rubans (ribbon-twist) detailing. \n\nHistorical Note: Significantly, this box is apparently unmarked, a trait often found in the most prestigious Royal commissions. Such pieces were frequently ordered from the Crown Jewellers (such as Rundell, Bridge & Rundell) as diplomatic gifts or personal tokens of the Monarch. Being intended for royal presentation, they often bypassed the standard commercial assay process to avoid the strike of a hallmark damaging the precision of the engine-turned gold.

— Details

Reference

SA1192028

Origin

circa 1810

Period

1800

Dimensions

W 8cm

Provenance

The Collection of the late Countess Mountbatten of Burma. This box descends directly through the family of the 2nd Countess Mountbatten of Burma (1924--2017). As the daughter of Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, and a great-great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria, the Countess's collection represents centuries of Royal service and intimate connection to the British Crown.

Condition

Excellent — see description