A Fabergé two-colour gold and enamel clock, workmaster Victor Aarne, St Petersburg, 1899-1904

of demilune form, the ground of translucent lilac enamel over a radiating wavy engine-turned ground within reed and pellet borders, the central circular aperture above a spray of palm leaves and staffs bound with ribbon, silver scroll strut, ivory back, struck with workmaster's initials and Fabergé in Cyrillic, 56 and 88 standards

Excellent condition. The ivory with dark surface scratches.
"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."

When Johan Victor Aarne sold his workshop at no. 58 Demidov Lane at the Ekaterininskii Canal in St Petersburg to Hjalmar Armfelt in 1904 and returned to his native Finland, Agathon, Fabergé's son, commented to the new owner, who had worked for Anders Nevalainen, "There is a great difference between Aarne and Nevalainen.  We have become accustomed to having a high opinion of Aarne's firm.  Can you guarantee that we shall be able to go on having such a high opinion of it?"  Born in Tempere, Finland in 1863, Aarne attained the rank of journeyman there in 1880.  He moved to St Petersburg and worked for Fabergé until 1890, when he returned briefly to his hometown and qualified as Master.  During his following fourteen years as a Fabergé workmaster, Aarne was called "our Lalique" by his colleagues because of his interest in Art Nouveau decoration and in recognition of his success as a craftsman of the first order. 

Unlike the vast majority of Fabergé clocks -- more than ninety per cent -- which are mounted in silver or silver-gilt, the present clock is mounted in gold, marking it out as a truly luxurious object.  The lilac enamel, suggestive of the elegant and much admired decorative arts of the Ancien Régime of late 18th century France, is perfectly in keeping with the neoclassical motifs employed by Aarne on the mounts.  The popularity of this colour in Russia during the reign of the last Czar, particularly on Fabergé objects, may be due in part to the influence of the Empress Alexandra, who had a famous penchant for lilac, expressed most vividly in her Mauve Boudoir in the Alexander Palace at Tsarskoye Selo, designed for her by Roman Meltzer in 1896.  Although she was not considered a great trendsetter, a shrewd luxury goods retailer such as Fabergé would undoubtedly have been influenced by her tastes, even when not producing goods specifically for her.

For comparison, see Sotheby's New York, Property from the Collections of Lily and Edmond J. Safra, 3 November 2005, lot 26, a salmon pink enamelled photograph frame by Aarne of the same form and incorporating the same ribbon-tied staff and palm leaf motif, but with the addition of a cabochon sapphire and an undulating trail of laurel around the outer frame.