A gold-mounted tortoiseshell Royal portrait snuff box, Paris, 1819-1838

rectangular, the lid set with an oval portrait of King George IV (1762-1830), as Prince Regent, by Henry Bone, facing left, in the red uniform of a Field-Marshal, wearing the badge of the Order of the Golden Fleece, the breast stars of the Order of the Garter, the Saint Esprit, the Black Eagle and St. Andrew and miniature ribbons, in gold-mounted glazed frame, signed monogram HB, maker's mark rubbed but probably that of J. Leferré (fils aîné), Paris garantie and 3e titre for 1819-1838, with inscribed paper label

Formerly in the collection of the Duke of Trachenberg, Prince of Hatzfeldt of the Trachenberg castle in Silesia;
thence by descent.

chip to base, hairline crack to left top corner of interior lid. For all sales which take place on or after 1 February 2015, please note that the rate of buyer's premium for each lot (charged as a percentage of the hammer price achieved for that lot) has been revised and shall be calculated at the thresholds set out below: Buyer's premium is 25% of the hammer price up to and including £100,000; Buyer's premium is 20% of the hammer price on any amount in excess of £100, 000 up to and including £1,800,000; Buyer's premium is 12% of the hammer price on any amount in excess of £1,800,000. As stated above, the revised thresholds are effective as of 1 February 2015.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Henry Bone (1755-1834) officially painted this portrait miniature after a life-size portrait by Sir Thomas Lawrence in 1816. Henry Bone was born in Cornwall but later moved to Bristol where he was apprentice as painter on porcelain. In 1778, as the Bristol factory closed, Henry Bone came to London and found employment enamelling watches and fans, afterwards painting enamels and watercolour portraits. In 1780, he presented an unusually large enamel portrait of his wife at the Royal Academy. After this success, he devoted himself to enamel paintings and exhibited in 1789 'A Muse and Cupid', the largest enamel painting ever executed up to that time. In 1800, he was appointed enamel painter to the Prince of Wales, in 1801 to King George III and continued to serve his successors George IV and William IV.