RUSSIAN GOLD and SILVER ENAMELLED CIGARETTE CASE from SOTHEBY's
A Russian silver cigarette case with an Imperial Gold and enamel coin with the portrait of Catherine II. The clasp is encrusted with a gemstone. A gilt wash interior. The coin is adorned with a relief monogram on the backside.
DIMENSIONS: 3 7/8 x 2 7/8 inches (102 x 75 mm). Weight: 200 grams.
HALLMARKS: '56' for gold content, '84' silver mark, 'V.GORDON' in Cyrillic (Gordon Vladimir Alekseevich - an outstanding silversmith, worked on Faberge and Bolin), and 'MC' in Cyrillic for famous Russian silvermaster Maria Wasiliewna Semenova (Moscow, 1896-1908) - please see information below.
CONDITION: Overall condition good, light signs of wear. The item is described to the best of our knowledge. Please refer to pictures and email with any questions.
PROVENANCE: Sotheby's Auction, Russian Works of Art, Faberge and Icons, Lot 55, December 2nd, 2020, London.
ESTIMATE PRICE: $4,000 - $8,000.
HISTORY of SALES: A few years ago Russian silver cigarette cases were sold on Live Auctioneers for $8,000 (2 years ago), $9,000 (10 years ago), $9,400 (2 years ago) and $12,000 (2 years ago) - please see the screenshots.
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HISTORY: Semenova, Maria Wasiliewna. Working in Moscow from about 1890. Her pieces are of outstanding quality, especially in the painting of the cloisons. Her style tends more to the traditional, less often Art Nouveau. The magnificent cloisons of her flowers (on a matted gold grond) are shaded with violet tones. Other typical colours are white and green, with frequent frames of round turquoise pearls. Also from her hand are enamel paintings en plein combined with cloisonne frames. Maria Semyonova inherited her father's factory after his death in 1896. She owned and managed the company but she was not a registered skilled master. Therefore she hasn't made a single thing only maintained the right to use an official maker's mark MC given by the guild. The objects marked with Maria's maker's mark are made by other skilled master working in the company. MC is more a logo/trade mark comparable with e.g. the Faberge mark.
SOME EXPERTS believe that items made by Maria Semenova can be found in Faberge cases. These items also have engraved numbers and letters, just like the items of independent work masters who produced objects for Faberge but were not part of the House of Faberge.

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