- 559
A magnificent Fabergé hardstone inkwell with jewelled gold mounts, workmaster Michael Perchin, St Petersburg, 1899-1903
Estimate
200,000 - 300,000 GBP
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Description
- Nephrite, gold, gems, diamond
- height 8.1cm, 3 1/8 in.
in neoclassical taste, the square well carved of nephrite and suspended in two-colour gold cagework, the upper and lower borders chased with reeds and applied with rose-cut diamond-set acanthus leaves and ribbons, the corner supports formed as projecting brackets chased with coin moulding and hung with diamond-tied laurel wreaths and swags, the fluted domed lid overlaid with acanthus below a diamond-set fir cone finial, the square stone plinth set within bound reeds, the corners applied with diamond-set acanthus above toupee feet, gold-mounted glass pot, struck with workmaster's initials and Fabergé in Cyrillic, 56 standard, scratched inventory number 2782, French import marks
Provenance
Sotheby's Zurich, 23 November 1978, lot 153
Condition
Excellent condition.
"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."
"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."
Catalogue Note
An early sketched design for this inkwell was sold in London in 1989 (see 'Designs from the House of Carl Fabergé', Christie's, 27 April 1989, lot 478, illustrated). The relatively modest drawing in pencil and watercolour records only the basic outlines of the form, giving little sense of how the fine chasing on the varicolour gold swags, pillars and lid, together with the generous application of rose-cut diamonds, will transform the inkwell into a luxurious object.