An Important Imperial Presentation jewelled gold and guilloché enamel snuffbox, by workmaster Nikolai Chernokov, Bolin, St Petersburg, 1908-1917 comes up at Sotheby’s sale of Russian Works of Art, Fabergé & Icons which runs in London from today until June 9. It was presented to Vice Admiral Count Carl August Ehrensvärd (1858-1944) by Emperor Nicholas II during his state visit to Sweden in 1909 and is estimated at £200,000-300,000. The cypher of Emperor Nicholas II set with rose-cut diamonds is applied to the lid. The sale brings together an unprecedented group of imperial presentation pieces and a rare group of twenty-four Russian Military Orders from an Important Swiss Collection, including a rare Collar of the Order of St Andrew and a seldom seen diamond-set, silver-topped, gold-mounted and enamel Grand Cross set of insignia for the Order of St Catherine, circa 1890.
