An exquisite Art Deco pillbox of 18K yellow gold in a roughly square form with concave sides and concave canted corners. The surfaces are engraved in series of parallel lines and completed with the matte Russian finish more frequently seen in earlier Art Nouveau pieces. The hinged lid is inset with a plaque of beautifully-figured translucent tortoise shell highlighted at the corners with geometric insets of rose-cut diamonds bead-set in white gold alternately with rectangular black onyx. The settings for the small diamonds are futher enhanced with angular engraving. The sides of the box are decorated with bands of engine-turned basketweave engraving alternating with unadorned gold stripes. The interior is finished in a swirling pattern and bears the engraved inscription, "Aurelia C. [Contessa] de Raffo 22.X.942 [October 22, 1942]". The inner lip is hallmarked "18ct", suggesting an English origin. The style of the box is quite clearly earlier than the 1940's--probably circa 1925--and given the wartime state of Europe at the time, it is most likely that the Contessa was not the original owner of the box, but was given it as a "vintage" piece.Origin: probably England, ca. 1925. Condition: excellent, all original. Size: 1-5/8" x 1-5/8" x 15/32" thick. Weight: 28.0 grams.
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