Cigarette case made of silver, dimensions approx. 7.8 x 8.9 x 1.6 cm, the surface finely textured, incorporated in the upper left corner the cipher “W” for Kaiser Wilhelm II, the cipher gilded, set with small diamond roses, the opening button made of a blue sapphire cabochon in metal setting, the case gilded inside, on the left side the Kaiser's cipher “W” applied in gold, below it the engraved dedication “Prize of Honor from His Majesty the Kaiser won in tennis competition by Oberleutnant zur See Robertson 1901.”, on the right side lower left the Imperial silver hallmark “¾” with the crescent moon and the Imperial crown, next to it the maker's mark “Gebr. Friedlaender Berlin” and the silver punch mark “900”. Additionally the small match case made in the same style, upper left again the cipher “W”. Dimensions approx. 4.4 x 4.9 x 0.85 cm. The cigarette case and the match case in a casket covered with red leather and lined inside with blue velvet with the maker “Gebr. Friedlaender Hof-Juweliere Sr. Maj. d. Kaisers Berlin W.”, on the lid outside applied the gilded Imperial crown. Dimensions approx. 17 x 14 x 3 cm. Only slight signs of use. Condition 2.
A very fine and exquisite example of the “courtly culture” of the Imperial era under Kaiser Wilhelm II. During leisure activities such as tennis matches, important contacts were also established and political decisions were sometimes made.
Henry Robertson is listed in the Honor Roll of the Imperial German Navy 1914-18 and was last Adjutant of the Danzig Naval Shipyard with the rank of Korvettenkapitän.
458659
