Sworders
Lot 210
A silver Betel Nut Box and Cover, mid 19th century, in the form of a butterfly alighting on a gourd, the sides engraved with endless knots and shou, in three divisions for betel nut, lime and paan leaf, stamped Shu wu, zu wen, xiang, dents, wear, 8.8cm By repute this box was looted from the Summer Palace by Captain Bryan Charles Fairfax of the Durham Light Infantry. With the lot is a manuscript note apparently listing the items, including the box, to be given to Christopher Firth by Fairfax. Col. Bryan Charles Fairfax CMG (1873-1950) Colonel Fairfax, the second son of the late Col. T F Fairfax, was born on 12 September 1873 and was educated at Winchester and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. Promoted to Captain in 1900, he went to China with the expeditionary force sent to deal with the Boxer Rebellion and served with the 1st Chinese Infantry Regiment at the relief of Peking and other engagements, receiving the medal with clasp. After a distinguished military career, he retired to his native Yorkshire, where he indulged in his favourite pursuit of hunting and was also known as a horse breeder and trainer of repute. He died in 1950. 清十九世纪中期 蝴蝶纹瓜棱银槟郎盒
