Postby dognose » Mon May 25, 2015 3:17 am
On the occasion of the retirement of the Duke of Devonshire from the office of Governor General of Canada, the Duchess of Devonshire was presented with a very handsome jewel case by Lady Borden, Mrs. Arthur Meighen and the wives of other Canadian cabinet ministers. The case, designed and manufactured by Henry Birks & Sons, of Montreal, has been on view for some time in their window, where it attracted considerable attention. It is elliptical in shape, of heavy silver, dull finished, and gold mounted, and is four inches high. 16 inches long and 12 inches broad, and displays the new arms of Canada worked in embossed gold and silver and colored enamels. Surrounding the coat of arms is a band of interwoven maple leaves in gold. There are four settings of Canadian tourmaline stones, each setting containing nine jewels. The case is surrounded by a scroll of maple leaves, and in front underneath the scroll is engraved in inscription, "Presented to Her Excellency the Duchess of Devonshire by Mrs. Arthur Meighen, the wives of the Cabinet Ministers, and Lady Borden, Ottawa, Canada, June, 1921." Starting to the right of this inscription the names of the donors are engraved. The case has four maple leaf feet, each made of embossed gold.
Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 13th July 1921
Trev.