Faberge cigarette case in original wood box.
The base material probably is silver. Size: 9,7 x 8,2 x 1,7 cm. Inside there are three small stamps. The oval one depicts numbers 88 and an unrecognisable figure. I can't make it out. The next one is like a double headed eagle and Cyrillic inscription, probably "Faberge". And the third is a hand engraved number: 23173 or 23178. There are some defects due to the occasional use and the passed time: - The dovetail joints of the wood box have become slack. - The opening button once had a small egg-shaped stone or enamelled plate which disappeared. Now the setting is filled up with red wax. - At a corner the enamel is cracked due to a hit, a very small enamel part is missing. I'm sure all these defects can easily be repaired by an expert.
The cigarette case was handed down from my grandfather to my father - and later to me - who was an officer of Austro-Hungarian army in Przemysl, before and partly during the first world war.
Auction House
Maybe
Thank you for submitting your item for appraisal. This appears to be a russian enamel cigarette case with a kokoshnik mark for the years of 1899-1908 with assayer's initials in Cyrillic ( W??л) and "88" for a purity of over 916 / 1000. The quality of the enamel is average and below the quality of Faberge. There is no workmaster hallmark and the "Faberge" hallmark is very faint. Faberge items were imitated or faked very early on. I am afraid collectors will reject this cigarette case as a fake. There is no measurement for the sentimental value you might attach to it.
