From its inception, the product line of Ivan Khlebnikov’s firm stood out due to its “pervasive national genre, its typical and easily identifiable shade of nationality.” This chiefly concerns works done in silver with enamel, such as this cigarette case with multicolored weaving in the “old Russian” style, dots and three-leaf lilies rendered in sparkling, bright-red enamel with bits of gold foil. The skillfully made polychrome patterns look particularly effective against the layer of impeccably polished, bright emerald-blue enamel. It was made in 1881, a year that saw the death of its founder, Ivan Khlebnikov. The company passed on to his sons, who in turn founded the I. P. Khlebnikov, Sons and Co. Partnership of Silver, Gold and Jewellery Articles.