A BELGIAN ROYAL PRESENTATION CASKET An ebony, oblong casket, inlaid with ivory, malachite and enamel, with turned column angles, the sides applied with four enamelled representations of the Order of the Star of Africa, twice with the enamelled arms of the Congo Free State and two rectangular plaques on carved with the date '14 Août 1879', the other '1890', the hinged cover inset with two square enamelled maps, one of Africa, the other of the Congo Basin with a silvered portrait bust of Henry Mortong Stanley, and engraved 'Etat Indèpendant du Congo Travail et Progrès', fitted with lock plate and key, the base inset with an ivory plaque with the names 'Jean Baes Architecte, Jul. Dillens Sculpteur, Fernand Dubois, Graveur, Auguste Dufour, Ofèvre, Jean Warnie, Èbèbiste, BRUXELLES', the velvet lined interior containing a handwritten letter from Leopold II, King of the Belgians. 17¾in. (45cm). PROVENANCE: Sir Henry Morton Stanley, and thence by descent. (Sale Chrsitie's, ? 1890) Included with the casket is a one page autographed letter from King Leopold II of Belgium letter is headed 'Brussels the 8th February 1886' and reads 'Dear Mr. Stanley, as a public mark of my esteem and gratitude, I send you the cross of Grand Officer of the Order of Leopold. At the same time I wish to express once more to you in these lines all my thanks for your great services on the Congo and to assure you of my unvarying friendship, Leopold'. The Order of the Star of Africa, Grand Cross set of insignia, was sold along with other decorations and awards Christie's, 25 March 1986, Lot 1. An important casket formerly containing the orders given over to Stanley Leopold in Brussels in April 1890. Although bestowed in 1886, on the outset of the Emin Pasha expedition, Stanley could only collect them on his jubilant return to the city. The letter from Leopold is both informal and friendly. (2)
A BELGIAN ROYAL PRESENTATION CASKET An ebony, oblong casket, inlaid with ivory, malachite and enamel, with turned column angles, the sides applied with four enamelled representations of the Order of the Star of Africa, twice with the enamelled arms of the Congo Free State and two rectangular plaques on carved with the date '14 Août 1879', the other '1890', the hinged cover inset with two square enamelled maps, one of Africa, the other of the Congo Basin with a silvered portrait bust of Henry Mortong Stanley, and engraved 'Etat Indèpendant du Congo Travail et Progrès', fitted with lock plate and key, the base inset with an ivory plaque with the names 'Jean Baes Architecte, Jul. Dillens Sculpteur, Fernand Dubois, Graveur, Auguste Dufour, Ofèvre, Jean Warnie, Èbèbiste, BRUXELLES', the velvet lined interior containing a handwritten letter from Leopold II, King of the Belgians. 17¾in. (45cm). PROVENANCE: Sir Henry Morton Stanley, and thence by descent. (Sale Chrsitie's, ? 1890) Included with the casket is a one page autographed letter from King Leopold II of Belgium letter is headed 'Brussels the 8th February 1886' and reads 'Dear Mr. Stanley, as a public mark of my esteem and gratitude, I send you the cross of Grand Officer of the Order of Leopold. At the same time I wish to express once more to you in these lines all my thanks for your great services on the Congo and to assure you of my unvarying friendship, Leopold'. The Order of the Star of Africa, Grand Cross set of insignia, was sold along with other decorations and awards Christie's, 25 March 1986, Lot 1. An important casket formerly containing the orders given over to Stanley Leopold in Brussels in April 1890. Although bestowed in 1886, on the outset of the Emin Pasha expedition, Stanley could only collect them on his jubilant return to the city. The letter from Leopold is both informal and friendly. (2)
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
/82264/Internet%20Image%201.jpg "Source: Dix Noonan Webb")
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
