A jewelled two-coloured presentation snuff box, Hanau, mid-19th century

cartouche-shaped, the lid applied with the jewelled cipher FJ, below an Imperial crown, probably for Franz Joseph of Austria (r. 1848-1916), on a matted ground, within a double border of rose-cut diamonds, flanked by three diamonds to each side, surrounded with high relief foliage, the baluster sides and base engraved with flowers and scrollwork, the rose gold lined interior with a paper note to lid reading: 'This box was a present from Francis Joseph, Emperor of Austria, to the youngest of the Czar's daughters in the year before the war, it was brought away from Russia by an aunt of the Princess, one of the few of the Royal family who was fortunate enough to escape the terrors of the revolution, the Emperor's initials, surmounted by the Imperial crown, will be noted on the cover',

later shell control marks and another mark in an oval, the left rim numbered: 3694,

8.5 cm; 3 3/8 in. wide

overall weight 167 grams; 5.36 oz.