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.
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SILVER Seller in Alpes-Maritimes, France
