Two weeks a year London’s auction houses each offer Russian art and antiques ranging from jewellery to weapons. Among the offerings will be pieces made by Fabergé prior to the Russian Revolution.
Christie’s is the first to have its Russian sale. On June 5th it will offer a highly important and impressive silver-gilt and guilloché enamel bowenite mantel clock. This was originally bought by Robert Younger, later 1st Baron Blanesburgh (1861-1946), from Fabergé’s branch in London’s Mayfair on 18th October 1909 for £147.7s.4d (in decimal money £147.67). The movement is by the Parisian clockmaker Drocourt, while the case is the work of Fabergé’s workmaster Julius Rappoport. Made at St Petersburg during the period 1899-1904 the timepiece is offered with its original leather-lined wooden storage box and original clock key. Consigned by a descendant of Baron Blansburgh, it is estimated £300,000-£500,000.
From the largest Fabergé piece in this sale to one of the smallest – a ladybird brooch just 2.3cm in length. In enamelled gold and set with rose-cut diamonds, it is being sold in its original silk and velvet-lined hollywood Fabergé box. The underside of the piece is realistically modelled with six legs. Ladybirds were popular with Fabergé’s clients as the insects were believed to bring good luck as well as blessing a household. This one was made by Fabergé’s workmaster Michael Perchin in St Petersburg during the period 1899-1904. It is anticipated to sell in the region of £20,000-£30,000.
On June 6th Sotheby’s will offer a botanical study of forget-me-nots in jewelled gold, turquoise and hardstones. Although apparently unmarked, it is catalogued as Fabergé. It is the first such study to have been offered at auction for 15 years. With its profusion of branches and blooms, it is also probably the largest forget-me-not study to have been offered in decades. Interestingly the flowerheads are centred with circular cut topaz or citrine fornices as opposed to Fabergé’s usual use of diamonds, therefore making it truer to nature. Created in about 1910, it is estimated at £350,000-£300,000.
A jewelled gold and enamel timepiece made at St Petersburg during 1904-1908 by Fabergé’s workmaster Henrik Wigström will be offered. It had previously been owned by Yul Brynner, who purchased it from Wartski in 1966. The late Kenneth Snowman, who was then the company’s chairman, considered it was the prettiest clocks that Fabergé had created. It is certainly charming. The estimate is £180,000-£250,000.
A fine nephrite carving of a rodent is the most unusual Fabergé offering at Bonhams on June 7th. It is a fine example of the firm’s hardstone carvings. The creature – which I think is a mouse as opposed to a rat – is posed seated half-turned holding its tail curved round its body with its two finely carved front paws. Within a height of 6.3cm the carver manages to compactly present an object that is both sculptural and humorous. It is to be sold complete with its original Fabergé box. A joy to behold, it is expected to realise in the £20,000-£30,000 range, perhaps even more.
Photograph frames were a popular feature of Fabergé’s stock. There is an exceptionally beautiful one in this sale. It is in silver with guilloché enamel. It is not the applied silver bows, wreaths, garlands, laurel border to the aperture for the photograph or the frame of bound reeds that appeal (indeed, in my view the wreath and garlands clutter the design), but the quality of the oyster white guilloché. The silver has been engine turned with a finely engraved wavy lines. Layers of oyster-white translucent enamel have been fired over these and then polished. The result is a radiating and shimmering effect. The cataloguer adds, ‘The final result is a work of mesmerizing beauty and unsurpassed quality of enamel’. Its estimate is £25,000-£35,000.
At all sales, a Buyer’s Premium of 25%, together with Value Added Tax, is added to the hammer price, making a total Premium of 30%
Fabergé collections are available online or in our international boutiques.
