BY HAHN AND WITH THE WORKMASTER'S INTIALS 'CB' FOR CARL BLANK, ST. PETERSBURG, CIRCA 1896

Recent research done by Valentin Skurlov, has uncovered new information about the relationship of the firm of K.Gan [Hahn], as well as that of Fabergé, and the workmaster previously known only by his initials C.B. Carl Carlovich Blank was born in Finland, then a Grand Duchy of the Russian Empire, in 1860. Registered as a gold and silversmith since 1885, he worked from 1892 until 1909 for the reknowned firm of K. Hahn, being made partner in 1911. After the death of K. Hahn's son Dmitrii, he continued with the firm in the production of diamond commissions from the Imperial Cabinet for orders and decorations. He was awarded prizes for excellence at the 1896 exhibition at Nizhnii-Novgorod, and in 1917, by the Imperial Cabinet as a mark of appreciation. According to Evgenii Fabergé's comments on the firm of Fabergé written in 1937, Blank worked for Fabergé, but he gave no further details.