82 - House of Savoy, 1916, silver cigarette case presented by Queen Margherita to Italian officers wounded in the war. Cigarette case: 8.50 x 8.50 cm; case: 10.50 x 9.50 cm

House of Savoy, 1916, silver cigarette case presented by Queen Margherita to Italian officers wounded in the war. Cigarette case: 8.50 x 8.50 cm; case: 10.50 x 9.50 cm Slightly curved in shape, this cigarette case bears the following dedication engraved on the lid: “HONOR TO THE SOLDIERS OF ITALY—GLORY AND PRIDE OF THE FATHERLAND—IN MEMORY OF PALAZZO MARGHERITA—1916.” Inside are the stamps “MUSY-TORINO,” the metal fineness “900,” and a serial number—likely indicating the limited number of pieces produced—“26.” It comes complete with its original ivory-colored leather case. The lid features a frame and a royal crown embossed in gold. Palazzo Margherita, a building located on Via Vittorio Veneto in Rome, has borne this name since 1900, when Queen Mother Margherita of Savoy—widow of the late King Umberto I—chose it as her permanent residence. During World War I, many rooms of the palace were used as a military hospital and cared for numerous soldiers wounded at the front. This silver cigarette case, crafted by the famous Turin jeweler Musy—a former supplier to the Royal House—was gifted by Queen Margherita to several officers returning from the front. There are some slight signs of use on the lid, but overall it is in excellent condition. A highly rare item.