Cigarette case, tall rounded rectangular of palisander wood, square central mounts of radiating guilloché oyster enamel with gold beaded frame and seated sphinx, two red and green gold foliate bands circle the case, four gold anthemions placed at the ends of the case, moonstone thumbpiece.

This cigarette case demonstrates the range of sources from which Fabergé’s designers sought inspiration. Michael Perchin, whose period as head workmaster is generally acknowledged to have been the most inventive in terms of design, chose the Egyptian sphinx and classical anthemions (ornamental motifs based on honeysuckle) to decorate this case. A palisander wood case with a similar applied sphinx in gold, but made in Wigström’s workshop, was sold at Christie’s in 1976.

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

Text adapted from Fabergé in the Royal Collection