A Russian Mistletoe-Patterned and Moonstone-Set Silver Cigarette Case Fabergé, Moscow, circa 1899-1908 0-1/2 x 3-1/4 x 2-1/8 inches (1.3 x 8.3 x 5.4 cm) 98 grams PROVENANCE: With Wartski, London; The Kathleen Durdin Collection of Russian Decorative Arts, Tampa, Florida, acquired from the above. At the turn of the century, mistletoe was a popular theme explored by Art Nouveau jewelers thanks to its supple and elegant form, and its associations with the winter holidays and with love and romance. The offered lot bears an indisputably romantic inscription "1902-1904 / Two happy years / Thanks to you." Fabergé is known to have made other boxes and cases with this mistletoe pattern, and made several hardstone flower studies, using nephrite for the leaves and moonstone for the berries (cf. in particular an example formerly with A La Vieille Russie, and subsequently in the Helen Babbott Sanders and Brooklyn Museum collections, sold Sotheby's London, Fabergé & Vertu, December 2, 2020, lot 10.) Property from the Kathleen Durdin Collection HID12401132022 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved