A Fabergé silver and bowenite table lamp, workmaster Julius Rappoport, St Petersburg, 1899-1908

the stem of amphora form tapering to a pine-cone silver mount and supported by a silver tripod stand on hoof feet, the stand further decorated with chased wavy and foliate ornament, mounted at the upper rim with ribbon-tied laurel wreaths, the whole on raised bowenite base, marked Fabergé in Cyrillic beneath Imperial Warrant, with workmaster's initials and scratched inventory number 8141, 88 standard

Christie's New York, 29 April 2000, Lot 66

In overall good condition. The piece would benefit from a professional clean. There are two very small chips to the bowenite base which do not detract from the overall appearance of the piece. There is a dark stain measuring approximately 1cm just above the lower rim of the lampshade.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

A very comparable lamp which once formed part of this important private collection was sold for over £200,000 by Sotheby's London, 28 November 2006, lot 269.  Bowenite would appear to have been the hardstone of choice for Julius Rappoport when creating these extremely decorative table-lamps. Two very similar lamps are held in the Pavlovsk Palace collection; they were also made by Fabergé's chief silversmith and the main bodies are formed from bowenite. Not only is the subtle green colouring of the stone very elegant, but it clearly compliments the Neo-Classical mounts decorating each of these examples.

Fabergé promoted the fusion of Classical design and modern technology in works produced by his firm. Electric lamps were a great novelty still at the turn of the twentieth century; at the same time Neo-Classicism enjoyed a revival and motifs were frequently worked into furniture and works of art. The offered lamp and the vases at Pavlovsk share many of the same design attributes, for example: amphora shaped stems, tied laurel bands and fir-cone finials. These were clearly popular with an Empress as the Pavlovsk lamps were taken from the private rooms of Alexandra Fedorovna at Alexander Palace.