A rare Queen Anne silver mounted Tortoiseshell Snuff/Tobacco Box. Made almost certainly in London circa 1708.
A rare Queen Anne silver mounted Tortoiseshell Snuff/Tobacco Box. Made almost certainly in London circa 1708.
375096
The Box is oval in form with a silver base and sides decorated with reeded bands. The reeded silver rim of the pull-off cover is inset with a slightly domed tortoiseshell panel to which is applied a silver portrait bust. Our research has now concluded that the bust is of Prince George of Norway (2nd April, 1653-28th October, 1708). He was husband of Anne, Queen of Great Britain. He was the consort of the British Monarch from Anne's accession on 8th March 1702 until his death in 1708. The marriage of George & Anne was arranged in the early 1680's with a view to developing an Anglo-Danish alliance to contain Dutch maritime power. As a result, George was disliked by his Dutch brother in law, William III, Prince of Orange, who was married to Anne's elder sister, Mary. Anne's seventeen pregnancies by George sadly resulted in no living heir, however despite the loss of all of their children, their marriage was a strong one. George died aged 55 to the devastation of his wife and he was buried in Westminster Abbey. To find boxes with Queen Anne's profile bust on the cover is fairly common, however those bearing her husband are extremely rare. We think that these may have been produced after his death, as a celebration of his life, however examples seldom come onto the market.
Length: 3.5 inches, 8.75 cm.
Width: 2.9 inches, 7.25 cm.
Height: 1.1 inches, 2.75 cm.
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. He was husband of Anne, Queen of Great Britain. He was the consort of the British Monarch from Anne's accession on 8th March 1702 until his death in 1708. The marriage of George & Anne was arranged in the early 1680's with a view to developing an Anglo-Danish alliance to contain Dutch maritime power. As a result, George was disliked by his Dutch brother in law, William III, Prince of Orange, who was married to Anne's elder sister, Mary. Anne's seventeen pregnancies by George sadly resulted in no living heir, however despite the loss of all of their children, their marriage was a strong one. George died aged 55 to the devastation of his wife and he was buried in Westminster Abbey. To find boxes with Queen Anne's profile bust on the cover is fairly common, however those bearing her husband are extremely rare. We think that these may have been produced after his death, as a celebration of his life, however examples seldom come onto the market.Length: 3.5 inches, 8.75 cm.Width: 2.9 inches, 7.25 cm.Height: 1.1 inches, 2.75 cm.){kind=link}