Measurements: 8.3cm (3.2in) x 6.8cm (2.7in) x 1cm (0.39in)
Provenance:
The Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII (1848-1910) and thence by descent to
King George V (1865-1936)
Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (1900-1974)
The cover and base with a sunburst ground, the cover centred with an oval glazed mother-of-pearl lozenge push-piece enamelled with badge of Prince Albert Edward (later Edward VII), comprising the Garter encircling the Prince of Wales feathers, and surmounted by the crown of the Heir Apparent, gilt interior. Maker’s mark of Arthur Mediansky of Vienna & Karlsbad.
The present cigarette case was most likely acquired by Albert Edward, Prince of Wales later Edward VII (1848-1910) during one of his visits to Austro-Hungary to enjoy health benefits of the springs at Marienbad and near by Karlsbad. The fashionable spa town resorts were regularly frequented by European royalty , such as Prince Friedrich of Saxony, the Czar Nicholas II, and Emperor Franz Joseph I, and, as such not infrequently provided a backdrop to the soft power wielded by Edward VII as the ‘Uncle of Europe’.
The case itself descended to George V when Prince of Wales (1901-1910) and thereafter was gifted to his third son, Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (1900-1974).