An exquisite miniature tabletop casket for jewels, conceived in the form of a traditional container used for the storage and transportation of the etrog - the citrus fruit employed in Jewish ritual practice. The piece was created in the workshops of the firm of Fyodor Antonovich Lorie (1871 - 1916) in Moscow during the period 1908-1917 and represents a rare example of jewelled sculpture enriched with symbolic meaning.
The body is crafted in 72 zolotnik Russian gold and executed in cast work with subsequent engraving, chasing and fine soldering. The surfaces are lavishly adorned with precious stones, enhancing the festive and sacred character of the form. The construction opens on hinged sections, the interior surfaces bearing the firm’s marks.
The form reproduces the traditional protective case for the etrog - the fruit used during the festival of Sukkot, commemorating the Exodus of the Jewish people from Egypt. In Jewish tradition, the etrog symbolizes beauty, spiritual completeness and harmony. Due to its delicate rind, the fruit is traditionally kept in a special container. The casket rests upon a base shaped as a grape leaf - an emblem of peace, fertility and abundance. The finial is formed as a small bird figure, allegorically praising divine deeds, thus reinforcing the spiritual dimension of the composition.
The artistic conception strongly suggests an individual commission for a wealthy client, possibly intended for a private religious or family collection.
Hallmarks: Firm’s mark “F. LORIE” (Moscow); State assay marks with gold standard “72”; Moscow assay office mark, 1908-1917.
Dimensions: 4.8 x 9.0 x 5.0 cm.
Weight: 70 g.
Condition: Good. Even gilding. Minor wear to the base. No deformations, cracks, restorations or signs of active use.
Provenance: Private collection.
Jewelled works produced in Moscow workshops in the early twentieth century in high-standard gold and set with precious stones reflect the synthesis of traditional craftsmanship with the aesthetics of Late Historicism and elements of Art Nouveau. The firm of Fyodor Antonovich Lorie, active from 1871, occupied a stable position within the Moscow jewellery market and maintained professional ties with leading metropolitan jewellers, including masters associated with the Moscow branch of Fabergé.
The production of objects connected with Jewish ritual symbolism in pre-revolutionary Moscow testifies to the presence of a prosperous and culturally integrated Jewish community commissioning works of elevated artistic quality. The form of the etrog container derives from traditional ritual cases preserved in museum collections such as the State Historical Museum and the Jewish Museum in Moscow, where comparable examples in silver and gold from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries are documented.
Within Judaism, the etrog - one of the Four Species used during Sukkot - embodies spiritual harmony and moral integrity. The transformation of this ritual form into a jewel casket represents a rare instance of sacred iconography adapted to a secular luxury object, thereby increasing its artistic and collectible significance.
Works of this calibre, combining religious symbolism, complex sculptural modelling and the use of precious stones, appear only infrequently on the international art market and are of interest to collectors of Russian Imperial jewellery as well as to scholars of Judaica within the context of the Russian Empire.
The object is in good collectible condition. Minimal traces of handling. Relief and decorative elements well preserved. Stones secure. Mechanism functioning properly.
The condition report is provided for informational purposes only.
It is not comprehensive and may not reflect all defects, restorations, alterations, or adaptations, as Antiqon does not perform professional conservation-level assessments. The information is based on a qualified, yet subjective, evaluation by our specialists.Before purchasing, we recommend consultation with an independent expert.Please also consult our Terms and conditions and Glossary A-Z, which contain important information on lot characteristics and sale conditions.
