A rare and impressive Fabergé jewelled gold-mounted guilloché enamel, rock crystal and nephrite model of an apple blossom, St Petersburg, circa 1900

Auction Closed

November 30, 06:31 PM GMT

Estimate

150,000 - 250,000 GBP

Lot Details

Description

Property from a Private Collection, UK

A rare and impressive Fabergé jewelled gold-mounted guilloché enamel, rock crystal and nephrite model of an apple blossom, St Petersburg, circa 1900

naturalistically formed with six blossoms, the finely textured gold stem emanating nine nephrite leaves, the flower heads guilloché enamelled in pink and white, each centring a rose-cut diamond amidst stamen, in a large flared rock crystal vase, in a fitted Wartski case, the stem with scratched inventory number 4629, the rock crystal etched with scratched inventory number 23487; together with a note inscribed '1973. Wartski. / A Faberge Apple / Blossom Spray etc. / From the Collection of Martha Baird / Rockefeller...'

height 20cm; 7⅞ in.

The scratched inventory number on this rock crystal vase corresponds to a Fabergé flower purchased for 800 rubles on 1 May 1913. This purchase was divided four ways between members of the Imperial family: Grand Duke Andrei Vladimirovich, 200 rubles; Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich 200 rubles; Grand Duchess Victoria Feodorovna 200 rubles; and Grand Duke Boris Vladimirovich 200 rubles.
The collection of Martha Baird Rockefeller (1895 –1971)
Acquired at Wartski, London in 1973
Ana-Ines Carcano y Morra 'Chiquita' Astor (1918-1992) and thence by descent