Jewelled Gold and Enamel Cigarette Case by Fabergé

workmaster Henrik Wigström, St Petersburg, 1908-1917 workmaster’s initials and Fabergé hallmark, gold mark of 72 zolotniks, London import marks length: 8.1 cm

Provenance:

This case was initially purchased for £111 from the London branch of Fabergé on the 21st of November, 1911 by the English novelist Ronald Firbank (1886-1926)

From the collection of H.R.H. Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon

Exhibitions:

Fabergé 1846-1920, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 23 June - 25 September 1977, no. K28

Fabergé from the Royal Collection, The Queen’s Gallery, London, 1985, no. 323

Literature:

H.C. Bainbridge, Peter Carl Fabergé, London, 1949, illustrated pl. 107

A gold lady’s cigarette case of oval cylindrical shape with a hinged lid and a diamond push-piece, enamelled overall in opaque white with gold stripes, the ends and the rim mounted with gold and green enamel laurel bands set with diamonds; each side centred with an oval white enamel medallion bordered with the same laurel leaf ornament: one blank, the other with a basket of flowers set with rose-cut diamonds; contained in the original box.