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Lot Essay
According to family tradition, the present cigarette case was awarded by Grand Duke Boris Vladimirovich (1877 – 1943), who represented the Imperial Family during his visit to Italy in August 1911.
Impressive gifts, such as the present enamelled cigarette case, played an important role in Imperial State Visits during the reign of Emperor Nicholas II. When abroad, the Imperial Russian court awarded a variety of gifts to foreign dignitaries as a means of creating diplomatic bonds. In addition to Grand Duke Boris Vladimirovich's visit to Italy in 1911, Emperor Nicholas II also visited the country in 1909 in order to meet the king at Racconigi (U. Tillander-Godenhielm, The Russian Imperial Award System 1894-1917, Helsinki, 2005, p. 331-332).
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 and the majority were supplied to the Imperial Cabinet by Fabergé (U. Tillander-Godenhielm, The Russian Imperial Award System 1894-1917, Helsinki, 2005, p. 215).
We are grateful to Dr Valentin Skurlov for his assistance with the research of the present lot.
Impressive gifts, such as the present enamelled cigarette case, played an important role in Imperial State Visits during the reign of Emperor Nicholas II. When abroad, the Imperial Russian court awarded a variety of gifts to foreign dignitaries as a means of creating diplomatic bonds. In addition to Grand Duke Boris Vladimirovich's visit to Italy in 1911, Emperor Nicholas II also visited the country in 1909 in order to meet the king at Racconigi (U. Tillander-Godenhielm, The Russian Imperial Award System 1894-1917, Helsinki, 2005, p. 331-332).
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 and the majority were supplied to the Imperial Cabinet by Fabergé (U. Tillander-Godenhielm, The Russian Imperial Award System 1894-1917, Helsinki, 2005, p. 215).
We are grateful to Dr Valentin Skurlov for his assistance with the research of the present lot.