The present carnet-de-bal has a dedication inscription from Nicholas II and was a gift from him to Elizabeth Balletta on 2 February 1902, the eve of a benefit performance marking her tenth anniversary on the St. Petersburg stage. After Balletta's death in 1959, a number of pieces from her famed Fabergé collection were acquired by Lansdell K. Christie (1903-1965), who owned this carnet-de-bal until it was sold at Parke-Bernet in 1967.
Elizabeth Balletta (c.1870-1959) was a famous ballet dancer and actress of the Imperial Mikhailovsky Theatre in St. Petersburg. She was first noticed by Tsarevich Nikolai Alexandrovitch, future Emperor Nicholas II, before having a long relationship with his uncle, Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovitch. Elizabeth Balletta performed at the Imperial Theatre for twenty-five years before settling in Paris with Grand Duke Alexei until his death in November 1908.
A nearly identical unmarked carnet-de-bal, previously in the collection of William Kazan sold at Christie's, New York, 15 April 1997, lot 73, was most recently sold again at Christie's, New York, 15 April 2013, lot 57.
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Good condition overall. The ivory inserts replaced with ivorine, with traces of adhesive around. Some pink champlevé enamel bands are slightly discolored along the edges. There are scattered small black firing flaws to white enamel in places. Otherwise, general surface wear consistent with age.
The case with some minor wear, nicks, and tiny scratches to the exterior, with some minor separation at the seams and with a crack along the cover, the underside with some traces of old adhesive, the interior lined in cream velvet and silk with some minor wear, tears, fraying, fading, and staining.
7/8 in. (2.3 cm.) high, 41⁄4 in. (10.8 cm.) long, 3 in. (7.6 cm.) wide, the case