An enamelled gold and gem set hardstone box in the
form of a shell by Carl Fabergé,

naturalistically carved from smokey quartz into the form of a shell, the undulating hinged gold lid edged
with chased gold rocaille and enamelled translucent chartreuse green over a sunburst guillochage
emanating from a trellis set with rose diamonds at its interstices, the thumb piece set with a
cabochon ruby flanked by old brilliant cut diamonds.

Moscow, pre 1896,
56 zolotniks.

5.7 cm by 4.8 cm by 3.5 cm

The box is modelled on eighteenth century gold mounted natural shell snuffbox. A snuffbox of
this form is in contained in the collection of the Hermitage (Inv E 3672); its
gold mounts are chased with foliate and trellis work motifs.

The stone was likely to have been carved at the Imperial Lapidary factory in Ekatarinaburg.
Artisans from the factory supplied Fabergé with works in stone to be mounted.