MARKED FABERGÉ AND WITH THE WORKMASTER'S MARK OF HENRIK WIGSTRÖM, WITH SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 21016, WITH LONDON IMPORT MARKS FOR 1911

Details

A RUSSIAN JEWELLED AND ENAMELLED GOLD CIGARETTE-CASE
MARKED FABERGÉ AND WITH THE WORKMASTER'S MARK OF HENRIK WIGSTRÖM, WITH SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 21016, WITH LONDON IMPORT MARKS FOR 1911
Rectangular, of oval section, enamelled overall with opaque white stripes, the spring-hinged cover and base with rose-diamond tied translucent green enamelled laurel mounts, a similar oval garland to either side, one enclosing a rose-diamond set pannier of flowers, with old-cut diamond push-piece, marked inside cover and on flange, 8.1 cm. long, in associated case

Provenance

Purchased from the London branch 21 November 1911 by A. Firbank for £ 111.00 (684 roubles).
Michael Pugh.

Displayed on a table in the drawing room of the private apartment of H.R.H. The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon (1930-2002) at Kensington Palace.

Literature

H.C. Bainbridge, Peter Carl Fabergé, London, 1949, illustrated plate 107.
Exhibition catalogue, Fabergé 1846-1920, London, Victoria and Albert Museum, 1977, p.68, no.K28.
A.K. Snowman, Carl Fabergé Goldsmith to the Imperial Court of Russia, London, 1979, illustrated p.20.
Exhibition catalogue, Fabergé from the Royal Collection, London, The Queen's Gallery, 1985, no.323.

Exhibited

London, Fabergé 1846-1920, Victoria and Albert Museum, 1977, no.K28.
London, Fabergé from the Royal Collection, Buckingham Palace, Queen's Gallery, 1985, no.323.

Special notice

This lot is offered without reserve. No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

Arthur Annesley Ronald Firbank (1886-1926) was the author of witty and satirical novels which are considered to have influenced the writing of such authors as Evelyn Waugh, Ivy Compton-Burnett and Aldous Huxley. Firbank was himself strongly influenced by the occultist, Aleister Crowley and dabbled in Black Magic around 1911, the year after his father's death. It is possible that the cigarette case was a gift for his widowed mother, whom he adored. Novels by Ronald Firbank have enjoyed a revival in recent years, with a set of three published in 2000.

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