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Lot Essay
The Imperial Russian court was renowned for awarding lavish gifts to Russian and foreign dignitaries, a tradition that flourished during the reign of Emperor Nicholas II. The responsibility of purchasing and allocating these awards, under the strict supervision of the Emperor, was given to the Imperial Cabinet.
With the popularity of smoking in the early part of the twentieth century, the cigarette case was a fashion accessory and status symbol. Thus it became a natural choice for an Imperial award. The designs for these cigarette cases typically featured an applied crowned Imperial double-headed eagle. The majority were supplied to the Imperial Cabinet by Fabergé, which specialized in guilloché enameled cases produced primarily in the workshop of August Hollming, such as the present lot (U. Tillander-Godenhielm, The Russian Imperial Award System 1894-1917, Helsinki, 2005, p. 215).
The design of the present lot is identical to a red guilloché enamel cigarette case, which was presented in 1914 to the director of the Finnish railways, Anders Ahonen, by the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna (U. Tillander-Godenhielm, op. cit., p. 217). For a blue enamel presentation cigarette case of identical design, see Exhibition catalogue, Fabergé - Cartier, Rivalen am Zarenhof, Munich, Kunsthalle der Hypo-Kulturstiftung, November 28, 2003-April 12, 2004, illustrated p. [220], listed p. 221, no. 223. For a related blue enamel presentation cigarette case with a diamond-set Imperial crown, see Property of a European Collector, Christie's, London, November 28, 2011, lot 212.
With the popularity of smoking in the early part of the twentieth century, the cigarette case was a fashion accessory and status symbol. Thus it became a natural choice for an Imperial award. The designs for these cigarette cases typically featured an applied crowned Imperial double-headed eagle. The majority were supplied to the Imperial Cabinet by Fabergé, which specialized in guilloché enameled cases produced primarily in the workshop of August Hollming, such as the present lot (U. Tillander-Godenhielm, The Russian Imperial Award System 1894-1917, Helsinki, 2005, p. 215).
The design of the present lot is identical to a red guilloché enamel cigarette case, which was presented in 1914 to the director of the Finnish railways, Anders Ahonen, by the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna (U. Tillander-Godenhielm, op. cit., p. 217). For a blue enamel presentation cigarette case of identical design, see Exhibition catalogue, Fabergé - Cartier, Rivalen am Zarenhof, Munich, Kunsthalle der Hypo-Kulturstiftung, November 28, 2003-April 12, 2004, illustrated p. [220], listed p. 221, no. 223. For a related blue enamel presentation cigarette case with a diamond-set Imperial crown, see Property of a European Collector, Christie's, London, November 28, 2011, lot 212.