A Russian jeweled gilded silver & guilloché enamel Imperial presentation cigarette case, the Third Artel, Saint Petersburg, 1908-1917. The rounded rectangular case enameled sky blue over a moiré engine-turned ground, the borders chased with a dash & dot pattern, the thumbpiece set with diamonds, the hinged lid with a diamond-set Imperial eagle, contained in the original blue leather-bound, silk- & velvet-lined case of jeweler Alexander Tillander of Saint Petersburg, the cover stamped with the gilt Imperial eagle. Dimensions: 3 ¾” x 2 ½” (9.5 x 6.3 cm).

Condition: Some areas of restoration.

Provenance: Sotheby’s Geneva, 18 May 1995, lot 328

Saint Petersburg’sThird Artel was formed by a number of Fabergé’s former masters& was known for creating delicate objects decorated in guilloché enamel. Existing records indicate that the firm was only just getting its footing as World War I engulfed Europe. Despite the difficulty of the period & the war-related shortages soon plaguing jewelers & other artists, they produced exquisite objects in Fabergé’s tradition. Saint Petersburg’s Third Artel was formed by a number of Fabergé’s former masters& was known for creating delicate objects decorated in guilloché enamel. Existing records indicate that the firm was only just getting its footing as World War I engulfed Europe. Despite the difficulty of the period & the war-related shortages soon plaguing jewelers & other artists, they produced exquisite objects in Fabergé’s tradition.