UNMARKED, LATE 19TH CENTURY

Details

A SILVER-GILT MOUNTED LAPIS LAZULI CASKET
UNMARKED, LATE 19TH CENTURY
Oblong, on four compressed ball feet, the lapis lazuli sides, base and hinged cover with gilt-metal mounts, formed as columns at the angles, the cover applied with gilt-metal motifs and with initials 'HB', the interior of the cover engraved with an inscription
7¼ in. (18 cm.)
The inscription reads, 'Presented to Col: The Hon: Henry Byng, C.B. Equerry to the Queen by H.H. The Shahzada Nasrullah Kahn. August 1895'

Provenance

Presented by H.H. The Shahzada Nasrullah Khan of Afganistan, son of Abdur Rahman Khan, Amir of Afghanistan (r.1881-1919), while on his visit to London, to
Colonel The Hon. Henry Byng, later 4th Earl of Strafford (1831-1899) and by descent.

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium, which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

Nasrullah Khan, second son of Abdur Rahman Khan, Amir of Afghanistan, was born at Samarkand during a period of his father's exile there. He was in charge of a diplomatic mission to London in 1895, by invitation of Queen Victoria, and tried to establish an Afghan embassy there. He is likely to be the Nasrullah Khan who ruled the country for seven days from February 21st-28th, 1919, between reign of his brother and his brother's son.

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