A Cartier sapphire-set gold cigarette box with the Pahlavi lion and sun motif, from the collection of Her Imperial Highness Princess Soraya (1932-2001)
London, dated 1947
of rectangular form with rounded sides, the spring hinged cover secured by a swivelling bar to one side, the bar with rope twist decoration, the cover engraved with the Pahlavi lion and sun motif and set with a row of six step and circular-cut sapphires (untested for natural origin) on raised mounts, further sapphire to each end of swivelling bar, maker's name engraved on the front edge of the cover and hallmarked on the inside base and cover, tested as 9 carat gold
7.8 x 6.4 x 1.8 cm.; 115 g.
Footnotes:
Provenance
Beaussant Lefevre, Estate of Her Imperial Highness Princess Soraya, Paris, 30 May 2002, lot 180.
Christie's, Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds Including a Private Collection Donated to Benefit the University of Oxford, Part IV, 10 October 2013, lot 229.
Private UK collection.