A Fabergé jewelled gold and guilloché enamel snuff box, workmaster: Michael Perchin, St. Petersburg, 1899-1903

rectangular, the lid centred with a pastoral subject, enamelled in translucent cherry-blossom pink over radiating engine-turning, mounted with gold rocaille cagework accentuated with rose-cut and old mine diamonds, diamond-set thumbpiece, the base with undulating sunburst engine-turning and formerly enamelled, marked Fabergé, with workmaster's initials, 72 standard

Sotheby's Geneva, 18 November 1993, Lot 688

One small diamond deficient, otherwise in very good overall condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Michael Perchin had a natural affinity with the rococo style and this snuff box provides a fine example of how he made use of its decorative motifs in his own work. The lid composition is centred with a low-relief of cavorting couple very much influenced by engravings of J. E. Nilson. The two figures are framed by exuberant rocaille picked out in diamonds, also of 18^th century derivation. Where Perchin has ceased to follow earlier precedent, and thereby create a new and unique work of art, is in the decision to overlay the openwork design on a boldly engine-turned ground enamelled in opalescent pink. It is interesting to note that the same figure group, but with a different rocaille frame, appears on the lid of a cigarette case made by Henrik Wigström (see Sotheby's London, 5^th June 2001, lot 140). This occurrence may be accounted for by the fact that Wigström took of the Perchin workshop following the latter's death, and therefore he would have had access to casts and moulds made during the era of Fabergé's first head workmaster.