The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 13, 2025

Silver, rectangular cigarette case attached to a dark green rope with a tassel. The case is marked with fine horizontal ridges, intersected at the center of the rectangle by a band of diagonal ridges. A single ruby marks the central edge of the long side, from where the case is opened.

Cigarette Case

1911
maker

House of Fabergé

(Russian, 1842–1918)
workmaster

August Hollming

(Finnish, 1854–1913)
Russian
Silver, ruby, textile
Overall: 10.2 cm (4 in.)
Gift of the Hiller-Borneman Collection 2021.158
Location: 211 Fabergé

Did You Know?

The cigarette case also includes a compartment for a match striker.

Description

Fabergé offered variations of a cigarette case model such as this example, using different materials, surface treatments, and ornamentation. Accommodating individual clients’ wishes, the firm would also add a family insignia or additional decoration. The finely ridged surface demonstrates the superb handling of the precious metal by August Hollming, a Finnish master who worked for Fabergé in Saint Petersburg.
  • Listed in the inventory of the Fabergé London branch (#20039), sold to Queen Alexandra
    Hiller-Borneman Collection, Pittsburgh, PA, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    2021–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • None found
  • {{cite web|title=Cigarette Case|url=false|author=House of Fabergé, August Hollming|year=1911|access-date=13 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2021.158