BY FABERGÉ, WORKMASTER MICHAEL PERCHIN, ST PETERSBURG, 1899-1903, SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 2466

Details

AN IMPERIAL GEM-SET AND GUILLOCHÉ ENAMEL TWO-COLOUR GOLD-MOUNTED BELL-PUSH
BY FABERGÉ, WORKMASTER MICHAEL PERCHIN, ST PETERSBURG, 1899-1903, SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 2466
The domed body enamelled in lilac over a wavy guilloché ground, centring a guilloché enamelled oyster border decorated with a gold paillon laurel band, surmounted with a gadrooned hexagonal mount set with a cabochon moonstone push-piece, on a circular spreading base mounted with two-colour gold ribbon-tied laurel swags, on three reeded ball feet, marked under base with 'Fabergé' in Cyrillic and workmaster's initials
2 1⁄8 in. (5.5 cm.) diameter

Provenance

Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna (1847-1928), purchased from the St Petersburg branch of Fabergé on 17 December 1899 for 130 roubles.
Imperial and Royal Presents; Sotheby's, London, 24 November 2008, lot 20.

Literature

G. von Habsburg, Fabergé, Munich, 1986, p. 226, no. 420 (illustrated).
Exhibition catalogue, Fabergé - Cartier, Rivalen am Zarenhof, Munich, 2003, p. 169, no. 78 (illustrated).

Exhibited

Munich, Kunsthalle der Hypo-Kulturstiftung, Fabergé, 5 December 1986 - 22 February 1987, no. 420.
Munich, Kunsthalle der Hypo-Kulturstiftung, Fabergé - Cartier, Rivalen am Zarenhof, 28 November 2003 - 12 April 2004, no. 78.

Conditions of sale

Brought to you by

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Lot Essay

This exquisite bell-push was acquired by the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna from Fabergé on 17 December 1899, and was most likely intended as a Christmas gift for a member of her family or a friend. An important client and patron of the firm, Maria Feodorovna frequently turned to Fabergé for gifts to mark Christmas, Easter, birthdays, and other special occasions, thoughtfully selecting presents for her large family.

We are grateful to Dmitry Krivoshey for his assistance with the research of the present lot.

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