Live Auction 11997Russian Art
A JEWELLED GOLD AND SILVER IMPERIAL PRESENTATION CIGARETTE CASE
Lot 231

A JEWELLED GOLD AND SILVER IMPERIAL PRESENTATION CIGARETTE CASE

MARK OF FRIEDRICH KOECHLI, ST PETERSBURG, CIRCA 1894

Closed28 November 2016

Price Realised

GBP 8,750

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A JEWELLED GOLD AND SILVER IMPERIAL PRESENTATION CIGARETTE CASE
MARK OF FRIEDRICH KOECHLI, ST PETERSBURG, CIRCA 1894
The gold and silver body chased to imitate basketweave, the hinged cover with a diamond-set Imperial double-headed eagle, with a push-piece, engraved 'Caesarewitsch Nikolaus Alexandrowitsch / Coburg den 27.4.1894' inside cover, marked inside cover and base; in the original red leather presentation case
3¾ in. (9.5 cm.) wide

Anonymous sale; Sotheby's, New York, 4 December 1980, lot 182.

Specialist note

In April 1894, the future Emperor Nicholas II went to Coburg in Germany for the wedding of Grand Duke Ernest of Hesse, brother of Princess Alix of Hesse. Shortly after arriving in Coburg, Nicholas proposed to Alix and the two became officially engaged on 20 April 1894. This presentation cigarette case, dated 27 April 1894, was most likely a diplomatic gift from the Tsesarevich Nicholas Alexandrovich during his stay in Coburg.

A comparable Imperial presentation cigarette case by F. Koechli was sold Christie's, London, 28 May 2012, lot 221.