{"product_id":"attributed-to-faberge-18ct-gold-and-diamond-gun-metal-cigarette-case-1893","title":"Attributed To Fabergé 18ct Gold And Diamond Gun Metal Cigarette Case, 1893","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAttributed to Fabergé, this important 18ct gold and rose-cut diamond gunmetal cigarette case belonged to Princess Albertine of Montenuovo, daughter of Wilhelm Albrecht, 1st Prince of Montenuovo, and Countess Juliane Batthyány, and a granddaughter of Archduchess Marie Louise of Austria, second wife of Napoleon. It was given to her as a personal gift from her husband, Count Zygmunt Wielopolski, on her fortieth birthday. Princess Albertine received the case from Count Wielopolski following his purchase of it in St Petersburg in June 1893, from where it was sent on to Kraków, where Albertine was staying at the time.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe rectangular cigarette case with rounded corners, is decorated with a crossed trellis pattern, each intersection set with a rose cut diamond, thirty four in total. The thumbpiece is a cabochon sapphire in a gold collet set into an 18ct gold band that runs the full circumference of the case and forms its hinge and clasp. The case is engraved to the interior of the lid: \"à Butz cadet, Butz aîné, 30 Juin 1893,\" which translates as \"To Butz, the younger, from Butz, the elder, 30 June 1893.\" Butz was the Count's private nickname for his wife, used throughout his letters to her. The inscription plays on the twenty year age gap between husband and wife. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe cigarette case is closely comparable to documented Fabergé cigarette case of the 1890s, including an example illustrated as catalogue no. 100 in Gerald Hill's book 'Fabergé and the Russian Master Goldsmiths'.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCorrespondence surviving in the Wielopolski family archive (Kielce State Archive, Archiwum Ordynacji Myszkowskiej documents the story of purchase and reaction of the receiver. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLetter from Count Zygmunt Wielopolski to Albertine Wielopolska of Montenuovo\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSt Petersburg, 15\/27 June 1893:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"I am bringing you from here 500 cigarettes, ordered specially, such as you like them (as the wise Valentin says) and a cigarette case, which I hope will meet with your approval.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI am leaving tomorrow evening, will be in Warsaw on Thursday evening, to leave again on Monday or Tuesday for Chroberz. Yesterday I had lunch at Parzebe at the home of Grand Duke Vladimir; today I am having lunch with Their Imperial Highnesses in town. I will not see Their Majesties who are leaving for their annual excursion along the coasts of Finland.\" \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCount Wielopolski was a prominent figure in the Kingdom of Poland with direct connection to the Imperial Court. He also made repeated trips to St Petersburg through the late 19th century where he purchased the case there in June 1893, confirmed its delivery to Kraków by 5 July, and wrote to Albertine on 17 July 1893: \"Delighted that the cigarette case pleases you.\" \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA separate note, added later and written in German, records its descent through the family. The handwritten note inside the case reads:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"Diese Dose bekam Tante Alberta Wielopolska Montenuovo von Onkel Sigismond, ihrem Manne. Nach Tante Alberta's Tod, bekam sie meine Mutter als Andenken, so kam sie zu uns.\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn English:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"This case was received by Aunt Alberta Wielopolska Montenuovo from Uncle Sigismond, her husband. After Aunt Alberta's death, my mother received it as a keepsake, and so it came to us.\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAdditional documents available upon request.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMeasurements: 8.5cm x 5.5 cm, weight: 102.5 grams\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition: Wear with some signs of use. All diamonds in tact, the hinge closes perfectly. There are some indistinct scratches inside of the case.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReference:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGerard Hill (ed.), Fabergé and the Russian Master Goldsmiths, New York, 2008, cat. no. 100, illustrated p. 101 (comparable gun-metal Fabergé cigarette case, Forbes Magazine Collection, New York, inscribed \"Lady Haig from Queen Alexandra\")\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wolf \u0026 Stap","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58291309576456,"sku":null,"price":120000.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0742\/0379\/1624\/files\/cigarette_case_shopify_bg.jpg?v=1784835184","url":"https:\/\/wolfandstap.com\/products\/attributed-to-faberge-18ct-gold-and-diamond-gun-metal-cigarette-case-1893","provider":"Wolf \u0026 Stap","version":"1.0","type":"link"}