MARKED FABERGÉ, WITH THE WORKMASTER'S MARK OF AUGUST HOLLMING, ST PETERSBURG, 1908-1917, SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 2569

Details

A JEWELLED SILVER-GILT AND GUILLOCHÉ ENAMEL IMPERIAL PRESENTATION CIGARETTE CASE
MARKED FABERGÉ, WITH THE WORKMASTER'S MARK OF AUGUST HOLLMING, ST PETERSBURG, 1908-1917, SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 2569
Rectangular with rounded corners, the body enamelled in translucent white over a sunburst guilloché ground, the hinged cover centring a rose-cut diamond-set Imperial double-headed eagle, with a cabochon sapphire push-piece, interior gilt, inscribed inside base ‘Lt. Col. A.W.F. Knox. / from / H.I.H. The Emperor of Russia / 28th June 1911.’, marked inside cover and base; in the original silk and velvet-lined red leather case stamped with the Imperial double-headed eagle
3 5/8 in. (9.2 cm.) wide

Provenance

Presented by Emperor Nicholas II to Sir Alfred William Fortescue Knox (1870-1964) in 1911.
Anonymous sale; Christie’s, Geneva, 30 November 1982, lot 260.

Special notice

These lots have been imported from outside the EU for sale using a Temporary Import regime. Import VAT is payable (at 20%) on the Hammer price. VAT is also payable (at 20%) on the buyer’s Premium on a VAT inclusive basis. Where applicable Customs duty will be charged (per rate specified by HMRC guidance) on the Hammer price and VAT will be payable at 20% on duty. When a buyer of such a lot has registered an EU address but wishes to export the lot or complete the import into another EU country, he must advise Christie's immediately after the auction.

Sale room notice

The correct tax symbol for this item is the star as they fall under the reduced rate for import Vat. Import Vat is payable at 5% on the Hammer price and 20% domestic Vat is charged inclusively in the Premium. These lots have been imported from outside of the EU for sale and placed under the Temporary Admission regime.

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Iona Ballantyne

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Lot Essay

Alfred William Fortescue Knox (1870-1964) was the military attaché in the British embassy in Russia from 1911 to 1918. At the outbreak of the First World War, he became a liaison officer to the Russian Army and was with the Russian field forces between 1914-1918. From 1918 to 1920 he was head of the British military mission in Siberia.

On his return to England he published With the Russian Army: 1914-1917 (1921) which contained a detailed account of his time in the First World War and the Russian Revolution. In the 1924 General Election he was elected as a Member of Parliament and held his seat through subsequent general elections until 1945.

We are grateful to Valentin Skurlov for his assistance with the research of the present lot.

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