The Family Collection of the late Countess Mountbatten of Burma
The Family Collection of the late Countess Mountbatten of Burma
A silver-gilt snuff box, late 19th century
Auction Closed
March 24, 08:41 PM GMT
Estimate
1,200 - 1,800 GBP
Lot Details
Description
A silver-gilt snuff box, late 19th century
rectangular with rounded corners, decorated with two-coloured foliate scales, the inside of the lid with facsimile inscription: For darling Ernie With loving Xmas Wishes fr. Y. old Jenney, prestige marks
8.2cm. wide
Ernest Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine was born as the son of Louis IV, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine, and Princess Alice of the United Kingdom, daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
Together with his sisters, he grew up in Darmstadt, in the Grand Duchy of Hesse.
In 1894, his sister Princess Alix of Hesse and by Rhine (1872-1918) had married Tsar Nicholas II, last Emperor of Russia. Another sister, Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine (1863–1950), married Admiral of the Fleet Louis Alexander Mountbatten, 1st Marquess of Milford Haven (1854–1921), formerly Prince Louis Alexander of Battenberg. As such, Ernest ‘Ernie’ Louis was the uncle of Princess Alice of Battenberg (mother of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh), and her three siblings Lady Louise Alexandra Marie Irene Mountbatten, later Queen consort of Sweden, Captain George Louis Victor Henry Serge Mountbatten, 2nd Marquess of Milford Haven, and Admiral of the Fleet Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma.