The Family Collection of the late Countess Mountbatten of Burma
The Family Collection of the late Countess Mountbatten of Burma
A two-colour gold snuff box, possibly North African, late 19th century
Auction Closed
March 24, 08:41 PM GMT
Estimate
1,000 - 1,500 GBP
Lot Details
Description
A two-colour gold snuff box, possibly North African, late 19th century
rectangular with rounded corners and engraved ornament, the lid centred with an engraved circular motif, leafy floral border within zig-zag rim and further stippled border, yellow gold interior, the inside of the lid inscribed 'Edwina from George, Xmas 1941', rubbed marks, further struck '21' for 21 ct gold,
8.4cm. wide
Prince George, fourth son of George, Prince of Wales (later George V) and his wife, Princess May (later Queen Mary), was born at York Cottage, Sandringham on 20 December 1902. He and Prince Louis of Battenberg (later 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma), were both great-grandsons of Queen Victoria.
Having trained at the Naval College at Dartmouth, Prince George became an officer on board H.M.S. Temeraire in 1920. In 1934 he was created Duke of Kent, shortly before his marriage to Princess Marina, daughter of Prince Nicholas of Greece. With the outbreak of World War II in 1939 he returned to the Royal Navy, taking up a post with the Admiralty. Early the following year, however, he became a Group Captain in the Training Command of the Royal Air Force. It was in this capacity that on 25 August 1942 he flew to Iceland. The trip ended in tragedy when all on board were killed as their aeroplane crashed in Caithness.