Description

Jewellery box veneered in striking calamander with flush brass side handles and escutcheon. The lid features an inlaid brass monogram AJH, with letter engraved into each letter making the name John Adrian Hope. The latin in the monogram reads “At Spes Non Fracta”, which translates to “But hope is not yet crushed”.

The interior of this splendid Jewellery Box is magnificently lined with a emerald green leather & silk velvet, with two removable trays one of which has an original working Stirling silver pocket watch & winder, its stamped with the hall mark “Birmingham 1895” and no longer works.

We believe this box could have belonged to John Adrian Louis Hope KT GCMG GCVO PC, the 1st Marquess of Linlithgow. Monograms usually comprise of three letters that best represent the name. The first letter in the Monogram read is usually the largest or most interesting in design which would be the middle letter in this case. Looking at monograms around the same period as the jewellery box is what lead us to John Adrian Louis Hope, a Scottish aristocrat, politician and colonial administrator, who is best known for his brief tenure as the first Governor General of Australia. John Adrian Louis Hope 1860 – 1908

This divine Jewellery box comes with a fully working & stamped Bramah lock with tasselled key.

More information on Jewellery Boxes can be found on our historypage.

Additional information