Live Auction 14987The Metropolitan Opera Guild Collection
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CHALIAPIN, Feodor Ivanovich (1873-1938) – AN ART DECO GOLD CIGARETTE CASE
Designed as a reeded rectangular shaped case with beveled edges and applied with Chaliapin's monogram in Cyrillic, "FISh", completed by a black onyx-set push piece, in 18K gold. With a series of obliterated assay marks, 5½ x 3¼ inches (14 x 8.30 cm), circa early 20th century

Feodor Chaliapin – acquired by the Metropolitan Opera Guild "in London from a Russian private collector" (Memorabilia Committee minutes, 1965).

Specialist note

One of great operatic basses, Chaliapin initially met with a chilly reception on his New York debut at the Met in 1907 – a failure which has been attributed to his naturalistic stage manner. However, he returned with great success in 1921, and sang at the Met for the following eight seasons.