The miniature on this box replicates a recurrent image in Russian enamels, Viktor Vasnetsov's popular painting, A Vitiaz (Knight) at the Crossroads or Warrior at the Crossroads (1882). In the twilight, a bogatyr mounted on a white horse gazes across a battlefield pondering which direction to take. He has been identified as the 12th-century Kievan Rus warrior, Il'ia Muromets, who is mentioned in the byliny, the Russian folk stories. A highlight of the Fabergé box is the exceptionally fine filigree enamel. On the front face appears a stylized griffin with a darting red tongue flanked by swans. Birds with long tails are depicted on the ends of the box. A distinctive feature is the manner in which the filigree and painted enamel designs invade the painted scene on the left side and along the bottom. These patterns are executed in a silver overlay rather than in wire filigree.

Silver tarnish was reduced in preparation for photography and exhibition

DATE DESCRIPTION NARRATIVE
12/31/1969 Treatment Cleaned

 Fabergé. The State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg; Musee des Arts Decoratifs, Paris; Victoria and Albert Museum, London. 1993-1994.

Jean M. Riddell, Washington, D.C. [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 2010, by bequest.

 

[Marks] On bottom in Cyrillic: Fabergé with the Imperial warrant; [Symbols] kokoshnik right, delta, 88, indecipherable inventory number; [Marks] Inside lid in Cyrillic: 88, Fabergé

 

Bequest of Mrs. Jean M. Riddell, 2010

 

1908-1917

 

H: 1 3/4 x W: 2 15/16 x D: 1 7/8 in. (4.45 x 7.5 x 4.8 cm)