Lot 203: A gold Imperial presentation stick-pinFabergé, workmaster August Hollming, St. Petersburg, 1898-1908, with scratched inventory number 1338

Fabergé, workmaster August Hollming, St. Petersburg, 1898-1908, with scratched inventory number 1338
with Cyrillic letter '?' (capital letter of the Hermitage) and a small sapphire under the Russian Imperial crown set with two diamonds, 56 standard
length: 8cm (3 1/4in).

Stick-pins with the Hermitage emblems were given to musicians, dancers and singers who participated in benefit performances. Such presents were made on behalf of the Imperial cabinet as all principal theatres, opera and ballet companies were administered by the Ministry of the Imperial Court. For another example of a brooch and stick-pin with the Hermitage insignia see Ulla Tillander-Godenhielm, The Russian Imperial award system during the reign of Nicholas II, 1894-1917, Helsinki, 2005, page 192.