An enamelled and gem set gold mounted smokey topaz
bonbonnière in the early eighteenth century taste
by Carl Fabergé,

naturalistically carved from smokey topaz in the form of a sea shell,
the hinged gold lid enamelled opaque dark blue and decorated with
gold foliate scrolls, bordered with rose diamonds, the thumbpiece
a cabochon ruby flanked by two rose diamonds

Chief Workmaster: Michael Evamplevitch Perchin,
St. Petersburg, circa 1890,
inventory number: 48459

7.2 cm.

The box is modelled on eighteenth century gold mounted shell boxes. Fabergé would have
handled these prototypes during his studies in Dresden and visits to the Hermitage.

To see a similar Fabergé box closely modelled on an eighteenth century snuffbox in the Hermitage click here