A Fabergé jewelled and enamelled gold flower study, St Petersburg, circa 1900

formed as a single stem with three branches, the petals enamelled in translucent yellow over a finely textured ground, each stigma set with a brilliant-cut diamond within gold stamens, engraved leaves and stem, resting in a faceted rock crystal pot, possibly associated, apparently unmarked apart from a possible faint scratched inventory number

Christie's Geneva, 30 November 1982, lot 294

The flowerheads with small amounts of transparent glue residue to the centres and reverses visible under UV light. The right-most flowerhead with loose sepal behind. Some with scratches to the enamel, visible under magnification. The pot with a hairline crack at the rim, approx. 11mm in length; the edges with a handful of tiny chips consistent with age, a further chip at edge of stem hole.
"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."

The present lot is among a small number of buttercups produced.  For a similar example, see Wartski, Carl Fabergé: A Private Collection, 15-25 May 2012, cat. no. 26, p. 34-35.  Another, struck with Wigström's mark, was formerly in the Robert Strauss Collection (illustrated, G. von Habsburg and A. von Solodkoff, Fabergé: Court Jeweller to the Tsars, 1979, plate 109, p. 89.)  The Royal Collection includes a flower study of both buttercups and cornflowers (RCIN 100011; illustrated, C. de Guitaut, Royal Fabergé, 2011, p. 122-123), which was purchased by Queen Elizabeth in 1947.  A small, budding buttercup with nephrite leaves, struck with Wigström's mark and dated 1908-1917, is in the National Museum, Stockholm (illustrated, M. Swezey, Fabergé Flowers, 2004, p. 38).

The inventory of Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna's flowers compiled in 1917 includes a 'wildflower - gold stem, yellow enamelled flower with diamonds' and a 'wildflower - gold stem, yellow enamelled flower with diamonds in a vase of rock crystal' (see V. Skurlov, 'In Search of Fabergé Flowers in Russia', M. Swezey, Fabergé Flowers, 2004, p. 113).

The rock crystal pots or vases were carved in a variety of forms.  For other faceted pots, see Christie's Geneva, 11 November 1975, lot 262, and Christie's New York, 20 April 2000, lot 73, containing a dandelion; Sotheby's New York, 28 June 1979, lot 360, a sprig of raspberry; The India Early Minshall Collection at The Cleveland Museum of Art, inv. no. 66.443, a lily-of-the-valley.