A RARE JEWELLED GOLD-MOUNTED AND GUILLOCHÉ ENAMEL CIGARETTE CASE

The enamelling technique, garland ornament and colour palette used by Michael Perchin to decorate the present lot relate it to the Imperial Gatchina Palace Egg, also created by Perchin, which was presented by Emperor Nicholas II to his mother the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna on Easter 1901 (The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, MD, inv. no. 40.500). The Easter egg, also by Perchin, presented to Barbara Kelch by her husband in 1899 and now in the Royal Collection (inv. no. RCIN 9032) is also decorated with similar opalescent enamelling and painted garlands.

A very similarly enamelled opalescent étui designed in the manner of Henri Salembier's ornament, with rose and green garlands, also by Michael Perchin was in the collection of Lansdell K. Christie, New York (K. Snowman, Carl Fabergé, Goldsmith to the Imperial Court of Russia, p. 124, illustrated p. 123). A further related étui by Michael Perchin, almost identically enamelled and with pearl borders was sold Christie's, Geneva, 15 May 1984, lot 314 and formed part of the Forbes Collection (C. Forbes and R. Tromeur-Brenner, Fabergé, The Forbes Collection, New York, 1999, p. 168, pl. 169).