Live Auction 10401Russian Art
A JEWELLED GOLD-MOUNTED MOSS AGATE AND GUILLOCHÉ ENAMEL DESK CLOCK
Lot 220 PROPERTY OF AN ENGLISH GENTLEMAN

A JEWELLED GOLD-MOUNTED MOSS AGATE AND GUILLOCHÉ ENAMEL DESK CLOCK

MARKED FABERGÉ, WITH THE WORKMASTER'S MARK OF MICHAEL PERCHIN, ST PETERSBURG, 1899-1903

Closed30 November 2015

Price Realised

GBP 140,500

Considering selling a similar item?

Discover its value with a complimentary estimate from our specialists.

More Information

How to sell

A JEWELLED GOLD-MOUNTED MOSS AGATE AND GUILLOCHÉ ENAMEL DESK CLOCK
MARKED FABERGÉ, WITH THE WORKMASTER'S MARK OF MICHAEL PERCHIN, ST PETERSBURG, 1899-1903
Triangular, enamelled in translucent lilac over a moiré sunburst guilloché ground, centring a white enamel dial within a seed-pearl bezel, suspended from a gold ribbon crest, with moss agate rosettes at corners, each within a seed-pearl mount, all within a reeded border, black Arabic chapter and pierced gold hands, the ivory back with silver-gilt angular strut, the back-plate with hand-set, with an engraved inscription in French ‘In memory of an appreciative friendship’, marked on lower rim, back and strut, also with import marks; in the original silk and velvet-lined wood case stamped 'Fabergé St Petersburg Moscow' beneath the Imperial warrant
5 1/8 in. (13 cm.) high

Anonymous sale; Christie’s, Geneva, 28 April 1976, lot 200.
Acquired at the above by the grandfather of the present owner.

Specialist note

Carl Fabergé was particularly interested in the patterns which naturally occur in moss agate, resembling tree branches, ferns, or other vegetation and often creating scenic landscapes.

Moss agate, a variety of chalcedony with dendritic inclusions, was very popular among Fabergé’s craftsmen who continued the long European tradition of using it in clocks, jewellery and boxes. French jewellers worked extensively with moss agate in the 18th century when it was discovered.