Empress Alexandra Feodorovna: A Fabergé Diamond-Set Two-Color Gold Translucent Blue Guilloché and Opaque White Enamel Pill Bo...

Description

Empress Alexandra Feodorovna: A Fabergé Diamond-Set Two-Color Gold Translucent Blue Guilloché and Opaque White Enamel Pill Box
Fabergé, Workmaster Feodor Afanassiev, St. Petersburg, 1908-1917, with scratched inventory number 18223
0-3/4 x 1-5/8 inches (1.9 x 4.1 cm)
41 grams (1.31 troy ounces)

PROVENANCE:
Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, acquired from Fabergé on February 14, 1909, for 175 rubles;
Sold Wartski, London, March 1st 1949 for £250;
Private Collection, UK, acquired ca. 1950;
Sold Christie's, London, Russian Art, December 1, 2009, lot 4 ;
Private Collection, New York, acquired from the above.


Though the offered lot has appeared at auction before, the inventory number had never been accurately transcribed. A conservation cleaning to this piece revealed the full and correct inventory number 18223, which allowed confirmation that the work was acquired by the Empress Alexandra Feodorovna on Valentine's Day, 1909 from Faberge's St. Petersburg premises.
Bonbonnieres (small pill or sweet boxes) are among the most personal and charming of Fabergé's creations, prized by the members of the Imperial family for their refined craftsmanship in miniature. Together, these works illustrate Fabergé's mastery of small-scale luxury objects and the deep personal associations such items held for members of the Imperial Family. Empress Alexandra Feodorovna is known to have owned several examples, recorded in the Imperial Cabinet inventories and illustrated in early 20th-century Fabergé accounts.

Heritage Auctions is grateful to Valentin Skurlov for his assistance in the research of this lot.


Estimate: $40,000 - $60,000.

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