Russian Works of Art, Fabergé and Icons
Russian Works of Art, Fabergé and Icons
A RARE FABERGÉ VARICOLOURED GOLD, SARDONYX AND CHAMPLEVÉ ENAMEL BONBONNIÈRE, WORKMASTER MICHAEL PERCHIN, ST PETERSBURG, 1899-1903
Auction Closed
November 26, 06:32 PM GMT
Estimate
60,000 - 80,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
A RARE FABERGÉ VARICOLOURED GOLD, SARDONYX AND CHAMPLEVÉ ENAMEL BONBONNIÈRE, WORKMASTER MICHAEL PERCHIN, ST PETERSBURG, 1899-1903
round, the cover set with an intaglio of The Adoration of the Magi within a seed pearl frame, pink and yellow gold leaftip borders, the body with vertical bands of opaque white enamel alternating with gold bright-cut bands, struck inside with workmaster's initials, Fabergé in Cyrillic, 56 standard
diameter 6.3cm, 2½in.
The rare and interesting intaglio centering the cover of this bonbonnière is Italian, dating to the second half of the sixteenth century. Based on the intricacy of its carving, it was probably made in Milan or Rome and is in the style of Bernardi.
The importance of the intaglio carving itself suggests that this snuff-box may have been specifically commissioned from Fabergé to showcase it for the owner.
For a related bonbonnière set with a sardonyx cameo rather than intaglio, also by Michael Perchin and enamelled with vertical white bands of opaque enamel and gold, please see G. von Habsburg, Fabergé, Munich, 1986, p. 167, no. 232.