MARK OF DELHEID FRÈRES, BRUSSELS, MID 20TH CENTURY, STAMPED 18K

Details

HAILE SELLASSIE'S BELGIAN CIGARETTE CASE
MARK OF DELHEID FRÈRES, BRUSSELS, MID 20TH CENTURY, STAMPED 18K
Curved rectangular and with horizontal reeded bands, the cover applied with a diamond set monogram 'HS' below a crown above, further applied with a lion crest, marked on rim
5 in. (13 cm.) wide
The monogram is that of Emperor Haile Sellassie of Ethiopia (1892-1975)

Provenance

Presented to Prince Henry by Emperor Haile Sellassie of Ethiopia (1892-1975) on the occasion of the later's coronation, 2 November 1930.

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

In October 1930 Prince Henry attended the coronation of Emperor Haile Sellassie in Abyssinia, now Ethiopia. The crowning of Ras Tafari as 'King of Kings, Elect of God, Conquering Lion of Judah, Emperor of Ethiopia' was was an occasion without Royal precedent. Never had a Royal mission visited such an extraordinary and quixotic place; during his slow train journey to Addis Ababa, Prince Henry is described as eating meals 'always about fourteen courses with local chiefs along the way.' and in a letter to his brother, George VI, the Prince wrote that 'one has to keep very wide awake at every function as they have a peculiar way of altering things as they go along.'

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