LONDON, CIRCA 1837

Details

A VICTORIAN GOLD-MOUNTED AND HARDSTONE COMMEMORATIVE SNUFF-BOX
LONDON, CIRCA 1837
Rectangular, with concave lapis-lazuli sides, base and lid, the lid set with gold Coronation medal of King William IV dated 1831 struck with profile portraits of the king and his consort, Queen Adelaide, the second with profile of Victoria, the reverse with an allegorical coronation scene, both under glass and each within laurel frames, plain gold mounts and lining with applied shell and scroll thumbpiece
3 3/8 in. (86 mm.) wide
gross weight 9 oz. 4 dwt. (287 gr.)
One medal is struck with WILLIAM THE FOURTH CROWNED SEPT 8 1831 / W. WYON and ADELAIDS QUEEN CONSORT CROWNED SEPT 8 1831 / W. WYON on the reverse; the other with VICTORIA D. G. BRITANNIARUM REGINA F. D. / B . P and on the reverse ERIMUS TIBI NOBILE REGNUM / INAUGURATA / DIE JUNII XXVIII / MDCCCXXXVIII.

Provenance

Anonymous sale; Sotheby's, Geneva, 13 May 1991, lot 11.

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.

Conditions of sale

Brought to you by

Harry Williams-Bulkeley International Head of Silver Department

hwilliams-bulkeley@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2666

Lot Essay

The left hand-side medal celebrates the Coronation of King William IV in 1831. The obverse shows the bust of King William IV, the reverse the bust of his Consort Queen Adelaide. This medal was designed by William Wyon, chief engraver for the Royal Mint from 1828 until his death in 1851. The right hand-side medal commemorates the coronation of Queen Victoria with on the obverse a draped bust of Victoria wearing a bandeau and the reverse, the enthroned Victoria receiving her crown from Britannia, Hibernia and Scotia. The medal was designed by Benedetto Pistrucci (1783-1855), an Italian gem-engraver, medalist and coin engraver.

Pistrucci and William Wyon were fierce rivals since Pistrucci as a foreigner could not be appointed chief engraver and was made chief medalist, which he resented. This conflict continued into the late 1840s, sometimes featured in the press. In 1848 a Royal Commission on reform of the Royal Mint abolished the positions of chief engraver and chief medalist, with Pistrucci appointed a modeler and engraver to the Mint.

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