Antique early 20th Century Imperial Russian Fabergé gilt solid silver & gold necessaire case. Decorated with vibrant mauve enamel over an engine-turned ground, the vanity case is formed of three compartments, each fitted with a small mirror on the underside of its lid.

At the centre of two lids sits an applied flower set with an old cut diamond, the center lid mounted with a oval wreath of gold foliage. Each lid is fitted with a diamond-set thumb piece, while a solid gold chain attaches to the top of the case, blending seamlessly with the gold laurel borders that separates each compartment.

Hallmarked Russian silver 88 (916 standard), St-Petersburg, year 1908, Maker's mark BC for Vladimir Petrovich Soloviev (Владимир Петрович Соловьев), stamped with Faberge retail mark.

Vladimir Petrovich Soloviev (1857–1906) was a skilled Russian silversmith who worked closely with the House of Fabergé in St Petersburg. Operating his own workshop, he produced luxury silverware and objets d’art exclusively for Fabergé, marking his pieces with the Cyrillic ВC alongside Fabergé’s stamp. His work included fine silver tableware, cases, tankards, and decorative pieces, often featuring traditional Russian motifs, gilding, and enamel. Much of Soloviev’s output was made for the export market, with a significant portion destined for Fabergé’s London branch, which catered to British and European collectors. His pieces were especially popular abroad, admired for their craftsmanship and character, and remain highly sought after by collectors today. In 1903, Fabergé opened its London branch — the firm’s only outlet outside of Russia. Items for the shop were sent from St Petersburg by registered post and arrived without issue until 1908, when British customs seized a parcel bound for the store. Suspicious of the contents, customs passed the pieces to the Goldsmiths’ Company, responsible for regulating the standards of precious metals in Britain. They found the items lacked the legally required import marks and ruled that Fabergé’s silver and gold pieces must be stamped accordingly. Fabergé objected, arguing that his creations were works of art, and marking them for their metal content was beside the point. His lawyer, Mark Romer, famously likened the situation to valuing the National Gallery’s paintings by the cost of their canvas. Nevertheless, in November 1910, Fabergé took the case to the High Court of Justice. After much legal effort, the firm lost and was ordered to apply British hallmarks to any pieces destined for sale in London.

CONDITION:
In Good Condition - General wear to the enamel expected with age. Please refer to photographs.

SIZE:
Height: 1 cm // 0.39 in
Width: 11 cm // 4.33 in
Depth: 4 cm // 1.57 in
Weight: 162 grams
Chain Length: 20 cm // 7.87 in