Empress Maria Feodorovna: An Imperial Fabergé Diamond Set and Enameled Gold-Mounted Bowenite Egg-Shaped Frame Fabergé, Workmaster Mikhail Perkhin, St. Petersburg, before 1896 3 x 1-3/4 inches (7.6 x 4.4 cm) 180 grams (gross) In original Fabergé fitted presentation case. PROVENANCE: Empress Maria Feodorovna; Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna; Prince Vasili Alexandrovich, sold April 1949; Thelma D. Zane, thence by descent; Private Collection, California. EXHIBITED: Fabergé in America, 1996-1997, catalogue no. 21 LITERATURE: Geza von Habsburg (ed.), Fabergé in America, Thames & Hudson / Museum of Fine Arts San Francisco: New York, 1996, illus. p. 46. The offered lot belongs to an extremely small group of egg-form frames known to have been produced by Fabergé, all in the workshop of Mikhail Perkhin before 1899. One, also in bowenite with two-color gold mounts is in the McFerrin Collection, Houston Museum of Natural History (McFerrin "Iceberg" Item No. 24, illus. p. 253). Another in nephrite with two color gold mounts was formerly in the New York Trade, and is now in a private collection. Another bowenite egg-form frame with retractable portrait of Empress Alexandra on hoof-form feet formerly in the Forbes Collection was sold Christie's, London, April 20, 2001, lot 136 I. The offered lot has the same basic form as the first two of these, but features a diamond-set bezel, two-color gold mounts, enamel in opaque red and white, and green and red translucent guilloché enamel. The Imperial provenance of the frame and the presence of its original presentation case set it apart from the other extant models. This frame has no scratched inventory number, implying the piece may have been a special commission, never having entered Fabergé's stock. Fabergé researchers Anna and Vincent Palmade have suggested that this object may be seen on a desk in a photograph of Queen Alexandra and her sister, the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna at Hvidore in the Royal Collections (Royal Collection Trust, RCIN 2103175). Heritage Auctions thanks Anna and Vincent Palmade for their assistance with the research of this lot. Property of a California Family HID03101062020 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

Recently given a light conservation cleaning to remove organic residue.

In entirely original and overall exceptional condition, with only minimal signs of light wear consistent with age and handling. One original rose-cut stone reset to aperture frame. No signs of wear, repair or restoration visible to the naked eye. Light regular wear to underside of base consistent with age and use.

Under UV light, no signs of repair or restoration to enamel.



Original box:

Original burl birch box has been conserved and reglued with minimal intervention and no refinishing or repolishing. Lid exterior with pencil inventory number "I-234" and red inventory number "17" to underside. Original interior silk and velvet lining intact, during conservation, a detatched rose diamond was discovered and re-set in frame (number 12 at left from top center).
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