made in St. Petersburg between 1908 and 1917 by the 3rd Jewelers’ Artel (cooperative).

The gilded silver case with a guilloche wave moire pattern is covered with a beautiful purplish pink translucent enamel of a superb quality.

Size 2 1/4 x 3 9/16 in. (56 x 90 mm).

According to Gold and Silversmiths in Russia 1600-1926, the 3rd Jewelers’ Artel (Nr. 4208 in the book) headed by Vasily Nikolaevich Ivanov, worked for the Faberge atelier.

The Artel was located at 48 Ekaterininsky Canal in St. Petersburg.

The 3rd Artel is also mentioned in the 1983 exhibition catalog FABERGE by A La Vieille Russie, as an independent cooperative of jewelers which worked for Faberge (page 151).

The Artel was established around 1908 and mainly produced high quality guilloche enamel objects like bellpushes, boxes, cigarette cases, match holders, and picture frames.

Apparently, the 3rd Artel (similar to the 1st Silver Artel) retailed most of its pieces through the firm of Faberge.

The enamel is in exceptional condition what is rare for antique guilloche objects.

The thumbpiece of the case is set with a row of tiny rose-cut diamonds.

The gilded interior of the case is marked with 88 zolotnik old Russian silver standard (916 silver) and maker’s mark ‘3ЯA’ for the 3rd Jewelers’ Artel in St Petersburg.

The reverse of the cover has some faint traces of a removed engraved inscription.