Cigarette Case
A bright, colorful view of the Moscow Kremlin is painted in glossy enamel within a vignette on the face of the case. The remaining painted filigree enamel decoration is divided into rows of squares with colorful abstract flowers and foliage on alternating olive and black grounds. On the reverse of the case is an abstract landscape executed in wavy lines. The thumb piece is a pink amethyst. That the marks, kokoshniks, facing both right and left, appear together on this case would suggest that it might date from about 1908/09 when the transition in the marking system occurred.
Minor grime and tarnish were removed prior to exhibition.
Date Description Narrative
10/06/2015 Treatment Cleaned for exhibition
Sale, Sotheby's, New York, October 22, 2002, Lot 316; purchased by Jean M. Riddell (through Leo Kaplan as agent), Washington, D.C., October 26, 2002; by bequest to Walters Art Museum, 2010.
[Maker's mark] On top rim in Cyrillic: FR; [Symbols] circular kokoshnik right, kokoshnik left; [Mark] In Cyrillic: IL (for Ivan Lebedkin, Moscow assay master); [Mark] 84; [Symbol] On bottom rim: kokoshnik left; [Mark] In Cyrillic: IL
Period 1899-1909
Accession Number 44.872
Measurements H: 4 3/16 x W with hinges and stone: 2 13/16 x D: 1 1/8 in. (10.6 x 7.1 x 2.8 cm)