Object number
7406.4
Description
A cigarette box, inset with the lid of a chocolate box sent to every man of the South African Field Force by Queen Victoria on 1st January 1900. It belonged to Lieutenant J. R. E. Charles of the 26th Field Company, RE.
The box is made from solid silver with hallmarks on the lid and main chamber of the case, with a glazed panel protecting the original chocolate box lid. The case is of earlier manufacture than the chocolate tin. The case has a green velvet bottom and is painted green around the edges of the material.
The chocolate box lid features an embossed bust of Queen Victoria in a circle with a crimped internal pattern in the centre of the lid, with a small decal golden crown and the initial VRI beneath on the left side of the bust, and 'South Africa 1900' on the right.
Benneath, along the bottom of the chocolate box lid isa handwritten message from Queen Victoria ' I wish you a Happy New Year - Victoria'.
Inside the case is wooden with a green velvet lining, and a paper insert bears the message: ' The metal lid under the glass top is the lid of a chocolate box recieved by Lieut. J. R. E. Charles, R.E. (now Lieut-Genereral Sir Ronald Charles KCB CMG DSO) then junior subaltern of the 26 Fd Coy R.E. in South Africa on 1 Jan 1900 when every officer and man of the South African Field Force was presented with this New Year's Gift from Her Late Majesty Queen Victoria'.
The tin is painted with a gold border just visible.
Date
1900-01-01 - 1900-01-01
Production period
Boer War, 1899-1902
Material
Dimensions
- 160 mm
- Width: 100 mm
- Depth: 60 mm