659 - A Fabergé guilloché enamel cigarette case, Russia, St. Petersburg, Henrik Wigström, 1908–1917

A Fabergé guilloché enamel cigarette case, Russia, St. Petersburg, Henrik Wigström, 1908–1917 Silver, gold-plated, with an 18-karat gold setting. A very finely crafted cigarette case made of gold-plated silver, decorated on the reverse with white translucent enamel on a wavy guilloché background. On the hinged lid, a border featuring alternating leaves of green enamel and ruby cabochons. The push button is set with a large ruby cabochon. The upper inner rim features an 18-karat gold inlay. Hallmarked with a fineness of “72.” The base and the inside of the lid bear a district inspection administration mark with a fineness of “88,” a master craftsman’s mark “HW,” “FABERGE” in Cyrillic, as well as London and French import stamps. The inside of the lid bears the engraved inventory number “21377.” The enamel on the underside has a minor chip. Dimensions 8.8 x 5.5 cm, total weight 142.45 g. Wigström was initially an assistant to Michael Perchin; following Perchin’s death in 1903, he became workshop manager during Fabergé’s most productive period. From a private French collection. Auctioned on March 11, 2003, at the major auction of the estate of Baron Max Fould-Springer and Cecile de Rothschild at Christie’s in Paris (Auction 5042, Lot 310). Condition: II +