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ROYAL INTEREST: a 9 carat gold snuff boxCohen & Charles, London 1939, also stamped CALLOW, retailed by OSCAR CALLOW, MOUNT ST., W.1.
Of rectangular form, engine-turned reeded decoration, the hinged cover featuring a cast rose-gold floral thumbpiece, opening to reveal a plain polished interior with engraved handwriting 'Athens, Crete, Egypt, South Africa, England 1941' and 'With all love from P**cey', length 8cm, weight 110.7gms.FootnotesProvenance
Emerald Joyce Henrietta Brittain-Jones née Wallach (1902-1974).
Thence by descent
These boxes belonged to Emerald Joyce Henrietta Brittain Jones née Wallach, and were gifts from George II of Greece. Joyce was born in Allahabad, Utter Pradesh, India. Her father, William Wallach, was a Barrister in India. On 19th January 1924, she married Captain Jack Brittain Jones (1899-1975) of the Black Watch (1st Battalion), at a Society wedding at Middle Temple Church in London. In 1927, the couple had a daughter, Pauleen Victoria. By 1931, Jack and his family were living in India where Jack was Aide-de-Camp to Lord Willingdon, Viceroy of India.
In 1931, George II of Greece (1890-1947) visited India where he met Jack and Joyce. From 1934, the correspondence from Joyce to George is loving and affectionate, clearly indicating that a deep and meaningful personal relationship had developed between them. In 1935, George II was divorced by his estranged wife, Princess Elisabeth of Romania (1894-1956), who cited desertion. Joyce and Jack also divorced in 1935, citing Jack's adultery.
George II had become King of Greece in 1922, but in 1924 Greece declared itself a Republic, and the monarchy was abolished. Eventually the Greek monarchy was restored in 1935 so George returned as King. Joyce and the King then began to lead a very private life together in Greece, often at the Tatoi Palace, the Royal family's summer residence, situated thirty miles from Athens, where George was able to indulge his love of farming. Joyce reportedly knitted, read and sat quietly. She was well-liked by George's sister-in-law, Katherine, and regarded as one of the family.
It is reported that Joyce refused to marry George II because she believed that a morganatic marriage, like that of Edward VIII and Mrs Simpson (also divorced), would be damaging to George's position as monarch.
In 1941, Germany occupied Greece and George fled to Crete, facing many dangers including his potential capture. A British destroyer transported him into exile in Cairo, Egypt. Later in 1943, Joyce accompanied George to the United States of America as his quiet and inconspicuous companion. Joyce also accompanied George on a visit to South Africa. They had then moved to London, where Joyce engaged in war work as a Fire Warden. Joyce was a particular friend of Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent who was a Greek Princess by birth and a British Princess by marriage to Prince George, Duke of Kent.
In 1946, a referendum restored the monarchy, and George II again returned to Greece as King. He desperately wanted Joyce to accompany him to Greece and put pressure on the British Government to permit her to join him. However, the Government was concerned to avoid political difficulties in Greece, and refused permission. Princess Katherine suggested that Joyce could live in Greece as her lady in waiting. Sadly, whilst waiting for a resolution and missing each other, George II died of a heart attack in his office in the Royal Palace in Athens and was buried at Tatoi Palace.