Russian Works of Art, Fabergé and Icons
Russian Works of Art, Fabergé and Icons
Auction Closed
November 26, 06:32 PM GMT
Estimate
12,000 - 18,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
A FABERGÉ BOWENITE MODEL OF A SPARROW, CIRCA 1890
carved of bowenite in Japanese netsuke taste, with cabochon ruby-set eyes, modelled nesting on the ground, the underside carved with stylized feet
width 4.5cm, 1¾in.
Property from the Collection of King George I of the Hellenes; Christie’s London, 24 January 2007, lot 370
Fabergé drew inspiration for the present carving from the Japanese netsuke type fukura suzume, whose name is a play on the Japanese word for good luck. Two nearly identical carvings of sparrows by Fabergé, one in nephrite and one in aventurine quartz are held in the Royal Collection (C. de Guituat, Fabergé in the Royal Collection, London, 2003, illustrated p. 92, nos. 95 and 98).