A FABERGÉ SILVER BELL PUSH, FIRST SILVER ARTEL, ST. PETERSBURG, 1909-1913 |

naturalistically cast, chased, and engraved in crouched position, its red cabochon eyes as pushpieces, with underside wood panel, struck with artel's mark, Fabergé in Cyrillic with Imperial warrant, 88 standard

overall very good condition; the push on the left eye sticking slightly, both of the cabochons with some surface abrasions; the underside fitted with a stained wood panel, the interior with bell and wires still present, some of the screws appear to have been stabilized with an adhesive
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The First Artel was formed in St. Petersburg around 1909 when Julius Rappoport (1864-1916), Fabergé's leading silversmith and creator of some of the firm's finest silver sculptures, retired. Wanting to preserve the jobs of longtime craftsmen, Rappoport transferred his workshop and all his equipment, including the models for his silver animals, to the workers. They organized as a co-operative under the name 'First Silversmith's Artel'. Although they had immediate orders from Fabergé, organizational and economic difficulties brought the experiment to a close by 1914 after which Johan Aarne produced the silver sculptures. For a comparable bellpush by Aarne, see A la Vieille Russie, Fabergé, NY, 1983, no. 399.