Royal Interest Silver-gilt Snuff Box, 1850 NM

This is an outstanding quality silver-gilt snuff box made by the most important Birmingham box-maker, Nathaniel Mills and later presented as a gift by Prince Arthur to his friend Ralph Vivian to celebrate his upcoming wedding. 

This sumptuous silver box is appropriately decorated to the front cover with a chased romantic scene featuring a couple feeding swans and envelopped by a high quality floral scroll mount. This is a good-sized snuff box with a satisfyingly hefty weight and the overall gilding just adds to the high quality one would expect from such an important royal provenance. A further benefit is the presence of the original, red crocodile-leather covered presentation box that has ensured the snuff box has remained in tip-top condition.

The interior of the box is richly gilt and inside the lid is engraved:

"COL. RALPH VIVIAN ON HIS MARRIAGE

FROM

H.R.H. DUKE OF CONNAUGHT

1891"

Colonel Ralph Vivian (1845-1924) was the son of the British artist, George Vivian. He served in the Scots Guards during the Egyptian campaign in 1882 and was featured as one of the most eligibile bachelors "Men of the Day" (number 282) in Vanity Fair in April, 1883 whilst still a Lieutenant-colonel. The article featured a full-length portrait of him and brief biography; the portrait is now in the National Portrait Gallery. He married the American society lady, Sarah Endicott, widow to the wealthy business man Marshall O. Roberts in New York, 1892. Ralph and Sarah moved to London and according to a Country Life magazine article in 1907 they later resided at Houghton Hall in Norfolk - this house was built in the 1720's on the instruction of the original owner and first British Prime Minister Sir Robert Walpole.

His Royal Highness, Prince Arthur, the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (1850-1942) was the seventh and favourite child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. He served as Governor General of Canada between 1911 and 1915. He was an advocate to the British Army and served in South Africa, Canada, Ireland, Egypt (in 1882) and India.

Given both men served in Egypt in 1882 it is likely that they met and formed a friendship there and within ten years Colonel Vivian was married and following the announcement of the engagement, the Prince presented his friend with this snuff box as a gift.

This is a superb quality silver-gilt snuff box, in fine condition (small amount of wear & tear to crocodle leather exterior) with an interesting provenance.