Miniature Gold Box In The Shape Of An Etrog Container. F. Lorie, Moscow, Russia.

An elegant miniature tabletop jewelry box, designed in the traditional form of a container for storing and transporting the etrog, a ritual fruit in Jewish tradition. The piece was crafted in the workshops of Fiodor Antonovich Lorie (1871–1916) in Moscow between 1908 and 1917 and is a rare example of jewelry sculpture with profound symbolic significance.

The body is crafted from 72-zolotnik Russian gold using techniques of casting, engraving, chasing, and fine soldering. The surfaces are richly adorned with precious stones. The structure opens via hinged flaps, the interior of which bears the house’s hallmarks.

The shape replicates the protective case for the etrog, a fruit used during the festival of Sukkot, which commemorates the Exodus. In Judaism, the etrog symbolizes beauty and spiritual integrity. The box rests on a base shaped like a vine leaf, a symbol of peace and abundance. The top is crowned with a miniature bird, an allegory of divine praise.

The piece as a whole suggests a special commission intended for a wealthy client.

Hallmarks: Maker’s mark “F. LORIE” (Moscow); State hallmarks with fineness “72”; Hallmark of the Moscow Assay Office, 1908–1917.

Dimensions: 4.8 x 9.0 x 5.0 cm.

Weight: 70 g.

Condition: Good. Even gilding. Slight signs of wear at the base. No deformation or restoration.

Provenance: Private collection.

ID-ANTQ-8007