Gold cases from Manolo March collection sold at auction

A number of rare Russian gold cigarette cases owned by renowned collector Manolo March have been sold at a Christie's auction.

Some of the top-selling gold items in yesterday's (October 29th) London auction included a jewelled case made by Gabriel Niukkanen in St Petersburg between 1896 and 1908, which sold for £10,000.

Two Faberge gold cigarette cases went for £7,500 each, while two other Russian-made boxes attracted bids of £4,375 and £3,250 respectively.

A number of 18-c gold pocket watches and a German snuff box were also among the other gold items that were successfully sold.

Some £5.3 million worth of art and ornaments was sold in total.

Pedro Girao, chairman of Christie's European Advisory Board, and Orlando Rock, director and head of the house sales department, commented: "We are delighted with the excellent results achieved by the two-day auction of the sophisticated collection of Manolo March, which doubled pre-sale expectations."

The March family was one of the most powerful in Spain during the 20th century and owned a wide variety of rare art and furniture from a number of different periods.