A Fabergé two-colour gold and guilloché enamel etui, workmaster: Michael Perchin, St Petersburg, 1899-1908

oval rectangular section, finely enamelled in dark grey over a wavy engine turned ground, framed with green and red translucent enamel foliate borders and white opaque bands and beading, diamond push piece, marked Fabergé with workmaster's initials, 72 standard, with scratched inventory number 7191, in a Fabergé fitted case

The Hon. Mrs George Keppel
Sotheby's Geneva, Objets de Vitrine from the Collection of Mrs. George Keppel, 11th May 1989, lot 19
The Kazan Collection

M.Y. Ghosn, Objets de Vertu par Fabergé, Paris, 1996, no.29

The object has been re-enamelled throughout. This restoration has been very successful.
"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."

"she was invested for me with a brilliant, goddess-like quality... she could have decreed that her particular pedestal should have been made by Fabergé". (Violet Keppel)

The legendary Edwardian society hostess, Mrs George Keppel was the original owner of this very fine etui. She was beguiling, intelligent and humorous with numerous suitors. She was married to the younger son of the Earl of Abermarle, the Hon. George Keppel but also served as mistress to King Edward VII of England for the last twelve years of his life. Her predilection for works by Fabergé is renowned and she is frequently credited for encouraging King Edward VII to expand his collection. It is believed she helped select presents for Queen Alexandra and that she is responsible for commissioning the many jewelled, gold and hardstone figurines of the Sandringham animals currently in the Royal Collection, England. 

Mrs Keppel and King Edward both used Fabergé cigarette cases and frequently gave each other trinkets from the workshop.  The Royal Collection includes a case of comparable quality to the offered lot, given to the King by Mrs Keppel.  The fine blue guilloché enamel cigarette case with snake ornament was returned by Queen Alexandra to Mrs Keppel on the death of King Edward in 1910. She in turn presented the case to Queen Mary in 1936.   

The offered Fabergé gold and enamel etui formed part of Mrs Keppel's collection given to Sotheby's for sale in 1989 by her daughter the Hon. Mrs Sonia Cubbit. The etui, along with the contents of this sale had remained unopened in a safety deposit box at Drummond's bank for almost forty years from the death of Mrs Keppel in 1947 until 1986.