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| Micromosaic, gold and agate box England, 1888 Crown Copyright The Royal Collection Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II |
This handsome circular agate box and cover boasts gold rims and an intricate micromosaic of a greyhound set against a background of brilliant sky blue. The inside of the cover is engraved with the Prince of Wales’ feathers, his motto and the cipher “AE.”
This box has a rather interesting history within the Royal Family. It was made for Edward VII when still Prince of Wales. The box was a gift from Mr. Percy Doyle who’d asked that the interior be engraved with the prince’s cipher for his birth name, Albert Edward.
After King Edward VII’s death in 1910, the box was passed to his sister, Princess Victoria (daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, who lived FOREVER) who would later give the box to her nephew, the new King George V on his birthday in 1932. Of course, George’s consort, Mary, was quick to get her hands on it, and, in doing so, preserved this masterpiece in the Royal Collection.
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