A jewelled two-color gold presentation cigarette-case

MARKED WITH THE INITIALS OF CARL BLANK, ST. PETERSBURG, 1908-1917

Details

A jewelled two-color gold presentation cigarette-case
marked with the initials of Carl Blank, St. Petersburg, 1908-1917
Rectangular, with rounded corners, formed of diagonal bands of red and yellow gold, reeded overall, the cover with applied rose-diamond double-headed eagle, the interior of the cover engraved in Cyrillic '25 December 1912', with a gold-mounted cabochon sapphire thumbpiece, marked inside cover and base
3.5/8in. (9cm.) long

Lot Essay

Recent research has uncovered new information about the relationship of the firm of K. Gan [Hahn], and the workmaster previously known only by his initials. Karl Karlovich Blank was born in Finland, then a Grand Duchy of the Russian Empire, in 1860. Registered as a gold- and silversmith since 1885, from 1892 until 1909 he worked for the renowned firm of K. Gan, being made a partner in 1911. After the death of K. Gan's son Dmitrii, he continued with the firm in the production of diamond commissions from the Imperial Cabinet of orders and decorations. He was awarded prizes for excellence at the 1896 exhibition at Nizhnyi Novgorod, and in 1917 as a mark of appreciation by the Cabinet of the Tsar.

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