Heart-shaped box, rock crystal base, the hinged lid mounted in yellow gold and inset with pale rose-coloured mecca stone engraved with an Arabic inscription, bordered by Vitruvian scrolled band of translucent emerald green enamel set with rose diamonds.

Fabergé encouraged his designers and craftsmen to seek out sources of inspiration from areas as diverse as Greek, Roman, Gothic, Moorish, Renaissance and Asian art. This eclectic mixture of styles is evident in pieces produced throughout the lifetime of his business and greatly contributed to the success of the firm. The objects that resulted from this trawl through the history of design were skilfully conceived by the designers and exquisitely made by the craftsmen, not slavish copies but incorporating references to earlier styles or traditions.

Mark of Michael Perchin; gold mark of 56 zolotniks (before 1896); Fabergé in Cyrillic characters

Text adapted from Fabergé in the Royal Collection