Russian Art Week culminated this season with the much-awaited auctions of Russian art in London –
Christie’s, Sotheby’s and Bonhams having showcased over 150 antique Fabergé pieces and a selection of precious Russian works of art going under the hammer.
A highlight of Christie’s auction, on 30th November 2015, was the intricate triangular two-colour gold-mounted desk clock featuring detailed guilloché enamelling and a pearl bezel, which far exceeded its £70,000-£90,000 estimate to achieve £146,000. A 19th century jewelled snuff box, decorated with a water-coloured image of King Ferdinand I surrounded by a border of diamonds and an outer border set with diamonds, emeralds and rubies, sold for £22,500. In terms of jewellery, an elegant gold and platinum-mounted amethyst and diamond brooch, circa 1900, was a tempting buy at £2,500.
Sotheby’s auction on 1st December 2015 offered 54 remarkable antique Fabergé pieces. A notable lot was an intricate bracelet set with cushion-cut blue sapphires linked with diamond set flowers on a delicate chain. This piece, which reached £15,000, was created by Fabergé workmaster August Holmstrom in 1905 and previously owned by Sir Peter Bark, the Minister of Finance to Emperor Nicholas II. A deep green enamelled, diamond-set, circular box with the Imperial seal of Emperor Nicholas II was another highlight of this auction. Created by workmaster Michael Perkhin, the piece was carefully crafted from nephrite stone with golden laurels bordering the hardstone box and far surpassed its £120,000-£180,000 estimate to achieve a remarkable £299,000.
Lastly, the Bonhams auction on 2nd December 2015 included a pair of silver-crafted tazzas with an Imperial warrant. Beautifully crafted by workmaster Julius Rappoport in 1899, the tazzas were set on intricately decorated stands with the Imperial seal surrounded by a pair of griffins, and sold for £22,500.
Find out more about the auctions of pre-revolutionary Fabergé pieces at Christie’s, Sotheby’s, and Bonhams.
Fabergé collections are available online or in the international boutiques.
Images courtesy of Christie’s, Sotheby’s, and Bonhams.
