Rare Edwardian Silver & Enamel Coaching Scene Vesta Case with Crest of Maharaja Sir Bijay Chand Mahtab

A fine quality rare Edwardian double-sided silver and enamel Vesta Case, of large rounded rectangular form with sprung hinged lid and gilded interior, the face with inset enamel panel depicting a coach and four horses, the reverse with applied enamel crest of Maharaja Sir Bijay Chand Mahtab.

By W & G Neal, London 1904. Retailed by Hamilton & Co, Calcutta.

Maharajadhiraja Bahadur Sir Bijay Chand Mahtab, (19 October 1881 – 29 August 1941) was the ruler of Burdwan Estate, Bengal Presidency in British India (present-day West Bengal, India) from 1887 till his death in 1941. Mahtab's predecessor, Maharaja Aftab Chand Mahtab (ruled : 1879–85) died without heirs, and his widow adopted Bijay Chand Mahtab, son of Khatri Ban Bihari Kapur, a relative of Mahtab Chand Bahadur, a past ruler of Burdwan Estate from 1832 to 1879. At the time of adoption, in 1887, he was only six years old, therefore, the Court of Wards along with the Diwani-i-Raj, Ban Bihari Kapoor, (the natural father of Bijaychand), ruled the estate up to 1902. In 1893, the title of 'Raja' was bestowed on Ban Bihari Kapoor. The government permitted the Raj in 1897 to maintain an armed force of 600 people and 41 cannons.
In 1899, Bijay Chand Mahtab passed the entrance examination of Calcutta University, and was the first in the Raj family to obtain a formal educational qualification. In 1902, he came of age and was invested with full ruling powers to the throne of Burdwan Raj. Next year in 1903, the title of 'Rajadhiraj' was bestowed on him at the Delhi Durbar. A pompous coronation was organised in the palace at Bardhaman, where Lieutenant Governor Bourdillon was present to bestow the honour.
In 1903, he invited the Governor General Lord Curzon to the Bardhaman palace and to commemorate the event constructed a gate now known as Curzon Gate in Gothic style, which is a major landmark of Burdwan today and stands at junction of Bijaychand Road and Grand Trunk Road. The Royal Palace of Burdwan is situated one km from the gate.
In 1903, he saved the life of the Lieutenant Governor, Sir Andrew Fraser. He risked his life to save that of Sir Andrew Fraser, lieutenant-governor of Bengal, when an attempt to assassinate him was made by Indian nationalists on 7 November 1908. In return for his loyalty to the British, he was honoured with the title of K.C.I.E. and Indian Order of Merit.
In 1908, as per a proclamation of Lord Minto, elevated to the title of 'Maharajadhiraja', which was bestowed on a hereditary basis. He also served as representative of Bengal zamindars in Legislative and Provincial council, continuously for many years. In 1908, he toured England and Europe and later wrote a book named 'Diary of a European Tour'.
Mahtab died on 29 August 1941 at Burdwan. His reign which began in 1887 and lasted till 1941, was the longest in history of Bardhaman Raj. He left behind two sons Uday Chand and Abhay Chand and two daughters, thereby ending the long history adoptions for succession in Burdwan Raj. His elder son Uday Chand Mahtab, succeeded him to the throne of Burdwan Raj.

In 1868, HH Maharajadhiraj Shri Mahtab Chand Rai Sahib Bahadur (Zamindar of Burdwan in Bengal) was rewarded with the grant of a coat of arms for himself and his descendants. The arms are azure, an ancient Hindustani shield proper, between in chief a crescent argent and in base two swords in saltire, points downwards, also proper.

The crest is an iron-grey horse's head, couped, around the neck a riband azure, and pendent therefrom an escutcheon of the last, charged with a lotus-flower proper.

£2,250.00