ID 992568
Lot 22 | A GEORGE III GOLD ROYAL PRESENTATION SNUFF-BOX
Estimate value
£ 6 000 – 8 000
BY ALEXANDER JAMES STRACHAN (FL. 1799 - C. 1850), LONDON, 1802
Shaped as a shell of tortoise, the lid engine-turned with diaper pattern within polished gold bands, engraved on the base with initials AE below a crown within laurel wreath, the borders engraved with flowers on a reeded ground, engraved in cover with an inscription, marked in base and in cover
21/2 in. (60 mm.) wide
2 oz. 1 dwt. (64 gr.)
The inscription reads: 'A Present from their R.R.H.H./ the Princesses Augusta and Elizabeth/ to Earl Harcourt/ 1803'.
The initials are those of Princess Augusta Sophia (1768-1840) and Princess Elizabeth (1770- 1840) daughters of King George III and Queen Charlotte.
Provenance
George Simon Harcourt, 2nd Earl Harcourt (1736-1809), by bequest to his wife,
Elizabeth, Countess Harcourt (1746-1826), daughter of George Venables-Vernon, 1st Baron Vernon (1709-1780), by bequest to her nephew,
The Reverend Leveson Vernon Harcourt (1888-1860), son of the Rt. Hon. Most Reverend Edward Vernon-Harcourt, Archbishop of York (1757-1847), presumably then by descent,
The Harcourt Collection; Sotheby’s, London, 10 June 1993, lot 198.
Literature
The Will of George Simon Harcourt, 2nd Earl Harcourt (1736-1809), Public Record Office Mss. PROB 11/1497/126, folio 28, 'To Elizabeth Countess Harcourt my wife...my small Gold Snuff Box in the shape of a Tortois [sic.]...'
The Will of Elizabeth, Dowager Countess Harcourt (1746-1826), Public Record Office Mss. PROB 11/1708/104, folio 3, 'to my nephew the Revd Leveson Vernon a gold snuffbox in the shape of a tortoise'
E. D. Harcourt ed., The Harcourt Papers, Oxford, 1880, p. 228p. 236. 'The Large Drawing Room...In a small table cabinet in the Drawing Room are several article of curiosity...A snuff-box, the present of the Princesses Augusta and Elizabeth to Lady Harcourt.'
Special notice
This lot has been imported from outside of the UK for sale and placed under the Temporary Admission regime. Import VAT is payable at 5% on the hammer price. VAT at 20% will be added to the buyer’s premium but will not be shown separately on our invoice.
Artist: | Alexander James Strachan |
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Medium: | Gold |
Place of origin: | Northern Europe, Europe, United Kingdom |
Auction house category: | All other types of objects, Cans and snuffboxes, Boxes and Cases |
Artist: | Alexander James Strachan |
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Medium: | Gold |
Place of origin: | Northern Europe, Europe, United Kingdom |
Auction house category: | All other types of objects, Cans and snuffboxes, Boxes and Cases |
Address of auction |
CHRISTIE'S 8 King Street, St. James's SW1Y 6QT London United Kingdom | |
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Preview |
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Phone | +44 (0)20 7839 9060 | |
Buyer Premium | see on Website | |
Conditions of purchase | Conditions of purchase |
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