A rectangular box, cloisonné decoration of Pan Slavic stylised foliage and strawberries in muted shades of green, aubergine and white, cover inset with enamel miniature view of the Kremlin from across the River Moskva.

In October 1920 the daughter of Marie, Duchess of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, gave the King this box. It is typical of the pieces produced in the Old Russian or Pan-Slavic style of Fabergé’s Moscow workshops, which were established in 1887. Fabergé’s Moscow clientele were more conservative than those of the Europe-oriented St Petersburg branch. Sculptural silver pieces inspired by native folklore and history and decorated in traditional champlevé, plique-à-jour and cloisonné enamel catered to the rapidly growing merchant class conscious of their Slavic heritage. The cloisonné enamel on this box in muted tones of green, blue and mauve is typical of such pieces.

Moscow silver mark of 88 zolotniks (1908-17); Fabergé in Cyrillic characters

Text adapted from Fabergé in the Royal Collection