HRH Haile Selassie I Emperor of Ethiopia – A mid-20^th century Ethiopian silver filigree jewellery box, Addis Ababa circa 1967

Of rectangular form with a hinged lid raised upon four ball feet. The construction of twisted stylised foliate designs within roundels and lozenges. The top of the lid applied with the cypher of the Emperor below the Imperial crown of Ethiopia. Velvet lined interior. Together with original presentation letter dated 28^th November 1969.

Length – 16 cm / 6.25 inches

Gross weight – 454 grams / 14.6 ozt

The letter headed with the lion of Judah for Private Secretary’s Office Imperial Palace, Addis Ababa, dated 28^th November 1969, No 280/62

Reading:

“Dear Sir,

With regard to your request for works and objects of art which you have addressed to His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I, my August Sovereign I am commended to send along with this letter a cigarette box made of Ethiopian silver and craftsmanship. As you may see the box also bears His Imperial Majesty’s monogram in gold. It is His Imperial Majesty’s expressed wish that the enclosed item will serve your noble objective.

With best wishes and kind regards, I remain

Truly yours

Yohannes Kidane Mariam

Private Secretary to His Imperial Majesty

Mr Edward Howe

Appeals Director

National Society for Mentally Handicapped Children, 86 Newman Street, London W1P 4AR”

This box was destined for a charity auction of Royal memorabilia and gifts which eventually did not take place. Thence by descent of the addressee.

Haile Selassie I (1892-1975) was Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974. He rose to power as Regent Plenipotentiary of Ethiopia (Enderase) for Empress Zewditu from 1916 until 1930. Haile Selassie is widely considered a defining figure in modern Ethiopian history, and the major figure of Rastafari, a religious movement in Jamaica that emerged shortly after he became emperor in the 1930s.

A filigree basket president John F Kennedy by Haille Selassie in 1963 is held in the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston, Massachusetts (accession number MO63.1306).

Another filigree basket/bowl was presented to British Prime Minister Harold Wilson circa 1969.

A gold presentation case to H.R.H. the Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (1900-1974) was sold Christies’ London 13 Dec 2019, lot 65 (£5625 incl. prem)

A silver and gold presentation case H.R.H. the Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (1900-1974) was sold Christie’s London 13 Dec 2019, lot 64 (£2250 incl. prem)

A Caucasian silver and niello fly wish related to Haile Selassie was sold Sotheby’s New Bond Street, 17 Jan 2024, lot 59 (£4445 incl. prem)