King Sigcau Pondoland Snuff Box

This is a magnificent silver table snuff box with the most sumptuous floral scroll gilt border to the cover that is repeated around the sides of the box. The central field remains as silver and is engraved "Sigcau, King of Pondoland, 1889" with flourishes and a royal crown surmount. The underside of the box is engine turned and the gilt interior displays the hallmarks of the best of Birmingham's box makers - Nathaniel Mills. The box is quite fantastic with a very large size and a super hefty weight - as good a quality as you are likely to find and certainly a gift worthy of royalty!

Pondoland is a region on the Indian Ocean coast within current day South Africa between East London and Durban. It was formerly a Kingdom populated by the Pondo people and ruled by King Sigcau ka Mqikela in the latter part of the 19th century.  In 1886 the British segregated and annexed neighboroughing Xesibeland to Cape Colony. Through various political, economic and religious pressures the tribes people were forced to accept the annexing of Pondoland to the colony in 1894. In 1895 King Sigcau was arrested on the order of Cecil John Rhodes, however in an improbable legal victory the King was later released in what became known as The Great Sigcau Case.

This superb table snuff box was probably given as a diplomatic gift from the British to King Sigcau, perhaps as a sweetener to ease the process of annexation.