Lot 273
A late 17th century tobacco box and cover,
Auction: 27 November 2006 at 11:00 GMT
Description
indistinctly marked to the underside, of oval form, the hinged lid decorated with a central image of Charles I in armour, within a belt inscribed FLORET GREX VIVAT REX CVRRAT LEX translating as The King lives, The law guides, The flock prospers, surrounded by the emblems of France, Ireland, England and Scotland against a floral ground, the King is depicted below two winged putti, holding a crown and below a sunburst motif inscribed VIDEO (I See)
Dimensions
Length 8.5cm
Footnote
For a very similar box see Robin Butler, The Albert Collection, page 8, item 106. This shows a box, identical except the portrait is facing the other way, The Albert Collection box appears to be of better quality and the one offered here is probably a later provincially made piece. The hinge may be a later addition