Snuff bottle of flattened, ovoid bottle, with rectangular ring foot and brief neck, Chinese container reused with new cap, bottle of rounded flattened form of orange agate carved with horse tethered to a pine tree representing the saying Madao chengong (‘May you win an immediate victory’). Fitted with hinged gold cap of green and red enamel, white geometric decoration and pearl and gold finial.

The Dowager Tsarina Maria Feodorovna presented this unusual Fabergé snuff bottle to Queen Mary for Christmas 1913, having purchased it from the London branch. Fabergé is well known for his eclectic designs and in this instance a Chinese carved agate snuff bottle has been re-mounted with an enamelled gold lid, decorated with oriental-style motifs and surmounted by a pearl.

Gold mark of 72 zolotniks (1908-17); Fabergé in Roman letters

Text adapted from Fabergé in the Royal Collection and Chinese and Japanese Works of Art in the Collection of Her Majesty The Queen: Volume III.