Fabergé gold-mounted thuja wood snuff box with Catherine II gold coin
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
late 19th century
This exquisite round snuff box, crafted in St. Petersburg during the late 19th century, exemplifies fine luxury goods of the era. The body is constructed from thuja wood, accented by rose gold mounts lining the interior and edges of the piece.
The lid features a central inset gold coin bearing the portrait of Empress Catherine II of Russia (the Great), which is elegantly framed by a decorative wreath of small diamond roses set in silver. The piece carries significant marks, including a combined St. Petersburg hallmark, the numeral '56' indicating a gold fineness of approximately 14 carats, and the prestigious signature of Fabergé, stamped both inside the bottom and the lid.
The snuff box has a diameter of 7.5 cm and a height of 1.8 cm, with a total weight of 73.2 grams. This sophisticated tabatière represents the high level of craftsmanship associated with the house of Fabergé, combining organic wood textures with precious metals and gemstones to create a highly decorative and functional object for personal use.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Height
- 1.8 cm
- Weight
- 73.2 g
- Diameter
- 7.5 cm
- Material
- Thuja wood, rose gold, silver, diamonds
Technical characteristics
- Hallmark
- St. Petersburg, '56' (14ct gold)
Design
- Lid decoration
- Portrait of Empress Catherine II coin framed by silver-set diamond roses
Identification
- Source note
- Described from a single auction-house listing published on Invaluable (reproduced with Invaluable's permission). Details apply to that one example; other examples of the type may differ, and the listing is supplementary evidence, not authentication.
- Maker named in listing
- Fabergé
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.