A Gift From Queen Juliana Of The Netherlands And Prince Bernhard, Solid Silver, 1954

An elegant circular candy box made of 925/1000 sterling silver, crafted in Germany and commissioned for the Dutch royal court in 1954.

Characterized by the understated elegance typical of 1950s design, it features a perfectly circular shape with smooth sides and a slightly domed lid. The lid is engraved in the center with the joint monogram of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and her husband, Prince Bernhard: the stylized initials J and B, intimately intertwined, are surmounted by the Dutch royal crown.

This monogram, used by the royal couple on various personal items and official gifts, identifies this candy box as a gift from Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard.

The piece also bears a remarkable set of hallmarks that confirm its origin and date. The base bears, first, the German hallmarks—the crescent and crown accompanied by the 925 mark—as well as the hallmark of the German manufacturer A.M.
After its arrival in the Netherlands, the candy box underwent Dutch inspection: it also bears the lion with the Roman numeral I—which, since 1953, has guaranteed the first Dutch fineness standard of 925/1000—the hallmark featuring the head of Minerva, and the date letter T corresponding to the year 1954.

The coexistence of German and Dutch hallmarks is particularly interesting: it provides tangible evidence of the object’s manufacture in Germany, followed by its importation and official inspection in the Netherlands during the year 1954.

This small piece of court silverware thus serves as a captivating testament to the public life of Juliana (1909–2004), Queen of the Netherlands from 1948 to 1980, and Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld (1911–2004). With its royal monogram, precise dating, and dual set of German and Dutch hallmarks, it is of particular interest for a collection dedicated to European royal houses and objects of historical provenance.