Live Auction 7905Russian Art
A Two-Colour Gold, Silver, Opal and Diamond Imperial Presentation Necklace
Lot 237

A Two-Colour Gold, Silver, Opal and Diamond Imperial Presentation Necklace

MARKED FABERGÉ, WITH INDISTINCT WORKMASTER'S MARK, PROBABLY 'AT' FOR ALFRED THIELEMANN, CIRCA 1900

Closed29 November 2010

Price Realised

GBP 15,000

Considering selling a similar item?

Discover its value with a complimentary estimate from our specialists.

More Information

How to sell

A Two-Colour Gold, Silver, Opal and Diamond Imperial Presentation Necklace
Marked Fabergé, with indistinct workmaster's mark, probably 'AT' for Alfred Thielemann, circa 1900
Trapezoidal with laurel-leaf wreathed upper corners, containing a chased Imperial double-headed eagle centring a diamond-set coat-of-arms and suspending a pendant opal with diamond-set leaf and berry surmount, in its original blue leather presentation case, the cover stamped with a gold Imperial double-headed eagle, marked on chain terminals
1 3/8 in. (3.5 mm.) high, without chain

By family tradition presented to Isabella Harding, née Cockerill by Lady Emily Kingscote (1836-1910), née Curzon, Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Alexandra from 1872-1907.
Thence by family descent.

Specialist note

Isabella Harding was a Lady's maid to Lady Emily Kingscote throughout her service to Queen Alexandra as a Lady of the Bedchamber. This necklace was probably presented to Mrs Harding during a visit between members of the English Royal and Russian Imperial courts.
From 1890, the Imperial family ordered a variety of small items adorned with the Imperial double-headed eagle and set with modest precious and semi-precious stones to present as rewards for service to individuals from a variety of social milieus. Pendants, such as the present lot, were amongst the 'customary gifts' often presented on Imperial visits abroad (U. Tillander-Godenhielm, The Russian Imperial Award System during the Reign of Nicolas II, 1894-1917, Helsinki, 2005, p. 200).
The State Hermitage Museum Collection contains a very similar laurel-wreath and jewelled Imperial double-headed eagle presentation brooch with nearly identical diamond-set leaf and berry decoration. The Hermitage example is struck with the workmaster's mark of Alfred Thielemann, St Petersburg, 1908-1917 (The State Hermitage Museum, inv. no. BE 1391).