A 19th century Swiss gold and enamel "Turkish Market" presentation snuff box

unmarked (2)

Footnotes

The present lot was awarded, in 1887, to Major General Sir Robert Murdoch Smith (1835-1900) who was the director of the Telegraph System in Persia and later director of the Scottish Science and Art Museum. By family descent to the owner. The clear family provenance from its formal presentation by the Shah of Persia to the present day allows us to conjecture that the diamond adornment was added in Persia to make the box more suitable as a grand presentation gift.

After leaving school Murdoch Smith went to Glasgow University, and in 1855 he obtained a commission in the Royal Engineers by open competition, passing first out of some 380 candidates. In the following year he was selected to command the party of engineers which accompanied Sir Charles Newton's archaeological expedition to the site of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus.

In 1863, he was appointed to the staff of the Persian telegraph, connecting India with Europe, through Persia and Russia; and in 1865 he became director of the telegraph at Teheran and remained there for twenty years. His artistic and antiquarian tastes found a new outlet in the art and antiquities of Persia, on which he became a recognised authority. It was chiefly through his exertions that the fine collection of Persian exhibits now at the V&A was acquired.

In 1885, he was offered the post of Director of the Edinburgh Museum of science and art, now the Royal Scottish Museum, which he accepted.

He was sent back to Persia by Queen Victoria to present the Shah (whom he knew well) with a selection of Musical Band Instruments. During the presentation ceremony, the Shah returned the favour and friendship by giving Murdoch Smith "a gold snuff box encrusted with diamonds." An account of the ceremony appears on page 322ff, W K Dickson, The Life of Major General Sir Robert Murdoch Smith (Edinburgh 1901).

During this mission Murdoch Smith was also tasked with negotiating with the Persian Government, in relation to the occupation of Jashk, on the Persian Gulf, by British troops. Not only was this question settled to the satisfaction of both parties, but the opportunity was taken to secure a renewal on favourable terms of the telegraph convention with Persia.

On his return home he received his honour of knighthood; and in December, 1887, he retired from the army with the rank of Major-General. His remaining years were spent in Edinburgh, where he was not only a successful administrator of the Museum, but an active member of many public bodies and a well-known and popular figure in society.