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| Snuffbox 1911 Garrard & Co. Crown Copyright The Royal Collection Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II |
From the archives of The Royal Collection, we have this important snuffbox of gold, enamel and diamonds by Sebastian Henry Garrard (of Garrard's, as one would guess). The snuffbox, boasting watercolor on ivory portraits of King George V and Queen Mary, was made in 1911 expressly for the coronation.
But, it gets better. The piece was later engraved, on the inside of the gold lid, per Queen Mary's instructions and presented by Her majesty upon the day of the coronation of her son, "Bertie," (better known to us as King George VI) in 1937. Following the whole "Abdication Kerfuffle" (TM), I'm sure Mary was relieved to have Bertie on the throne and happily presented this handsome present to her Number 2 son. The 1937 engraving reads:
To
King George VI.
in remembrance of his Coronation,
from his devoted Mother,
Mary R.
May 12th 1937.
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| Crown Copyright The Royal Collection Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II |
The hinged, oval, gold and enamel box features a lid inset with glazed oval miniatures of Their Majesties, framed with rose cut diamonds, surmounted by a diamond and enamel crown, and with a diamond-set monogram below. Queen Mary is depicted in a white gown with Garter, and her favorite pearls. George V is shown, facing slight left in his uniform, Garter and assorted medals and orders.
Each side of the box is dazzling as the sides are alive with blue enamel with borders of white and green foliage and flower-heads. The reverse, or underside, shows masterful engine turning applied with a silver and enamel Garter star.
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| Crown Copyright The Royal Collection Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II |
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