Rectangular cigar box of nephrite, mounted in red gold with chased green gold laurel borders; hinged cover inset with a gold panel with sepia enamel painting of the Houses of Parliament from the south bank of the Thames.

Fabergé continued the vogue, started in the eighteenth century, for snuffboxes decorated with topographical views, buildings and monuments. Several with Russian views were produced – for example numerous boxes featuring Falconet’s monument to Peter the Great and the Kremlin, as well as views of private residences. Once the London branch of the firm had been established in 1903, the demand for such boxes was extended by Fabergé’s English clientele. According to Bainbridge, boxes and frames with views of the royal residences ‘would be enough to keep Fabergé going until the end of King Edward’s reign and well into King George’s.’ This nephrite box, set with a sepia enamelled view of the Houses of Parliament in gold mounts, was purchased by Grand Duke Michael of Russia from Fabergé’s London branch in November 1908 for £160 and was presumably given to King Edward VII.

Mark of Henrik Wigström; gold mark of 56 zolotniks (1908-17); Fabergé in Cyrillic characters

Text adapted from Fabergé in the Royal Collection