
Theo Raidan
Department Assistant
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Sold for £5,120 inc. premium
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Department Assistant

Head of Knightsbridge Silver Department
Provenance:
A gift from Queen Elizabeth II to former Danish Lord Chamberlain Hans Solvhoj (1919-1989). The box was presented to him by the Queen during her state visit to Denmark in May 1979. the box has been in the late Lord Chamberlain's family until today.
Another box of the same form and dimensions was sold at AUKTIONSHAUS STAHL September 2017.
The box was recorded as a gift to Helmut Schmidt by Queen Elizabeth II on the occasion of her visit to Germany in 1978.
Provenance was given as Helmut Schmidt, Ruth Loah.
GERALD BENNEY CBE RDI (1930-2008)
Gerald Benney was one of the most outstanding goldsmiths of the 20th century. With works being continuously produced for over fifty years, from private commissions to mass production. Born in Hull, Yorkshire, in 1930, Benney received many commissions from the Royal Family and was the first craftsman to hold four Royal Warrants simultaneously: from HM The Queen, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales.
Gerald Benney decided that his home at Beenham House in Berkshire was the place to develop the use of enamels. The first steps were to travel to Zurich to find an enameller who worked for Burch Korrodi. By chance he came across the Norwegian Berger Bergensen who had worked for the House of Bolin as well as Burch. Bergensen was persuaded to come to Beenham House and taught the Benney workforce all he knew about enamelling. With Alan Evans and Robert Winter becoming notable master enamellers for Benney.
It took several years to master the craft. He refined and mastered this art enamelling larger surface areas than Fabergé.