George V silver tobacco box with Ypres Cathedral stained glass, 1915
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1915
This George V period tobacco box is crafted from silver and features a distinctive octagonal form with a hinged cover. The cover is notable for its intricate design, which incorporates stained glass fragments recovered from the North Windows of Ypres Cathedral, following the destruction of the site on April 18th, 1915.
The glass is held within a metal framework styled to resemble two gothic-arched windows, providing a stark contrast between the metallic luster of the silver and the colored, fragmentary glass. The box bears an engraved inscription documenting the provenance of the glass and indicating that it was recovered by Major Arbuthnot of the Scots Guards while taking over Queen Alexandra's Gifts. The object measures 16.2 cm in length and has a gross weight of 615 grams.
It is hallmarked as London, 1915. Accompanied by historical documentation, this commemorative piece serves as both a functional tobacco container and a memento of the First World War, blending personal military history with the remnants of architectural heritage.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Weight
- 615 grams
- Material
- silver, stained glass
- Dimensions
- 16.2 cm length
Technical characteristics
- Form
- octagonal
Design
- Cover motif
- two arched windows
- Inscription
- Glass from the North Windows of Ypres Cathedral, April 18th 1915. Found by Major Arbuthnot Scots Guards on taking over Queen Alexandria's Gifts
Identification
- Source note
- Described from a single auction-house listing published on Invaluable (reproduced with Invaluable's permission). Details apply to that one example; other examples of the type may differ, and the listing is supplementary evidence, not authentication.
- Maker named in listing
- Henry Lambert
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.