Live Auction 1161Important Russian Art
A GEM-SET SILVER PRESENTATION KOVSH
Lot 258

A GEM-SET SILVER PRESENTATION KOVSH

MARKED K. FABERGÉ WITH THE IMPERIAL WARRANT, WITH THE WORKMASTER'S MARK OF ALEXANDER WÄKEVA (VÄKEVÄ), ST PETERSBURG, 1899-1904

Closed25 November 2013

Price Realised

GBP 43,750

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A GEM-SET SILVER PRESENTATION KOVSH
MARKED K. FABERGÉ WITH THE IMPERIAL WARRANT, WITH THE WORKMASTER'S MARK OF ALEXANDER WÄKEVA (VÄKEVÄ), ST PETERSBURG, 1899-1904
Of traditional form with raised prow and handle, the bowl repoussé with a circular reserve centring an Imperial double-headed eagle with the orb and sceptre, within densely repoussé and chased laurel border, the exterior sides set with a chrysoprase on each side within scrolling foliage and chased with Russian dedication inscription 'Emperor Nicholas II presented this kovsh to the Court Chamberlain Prince Andrew Alexandrovitch Shirinskii-Shikhmatov for his zeal in the summer of 1900', the shaped handle applied with the cypher of Nicholas II below the Imperial crown, marked under base
12¼ in. (31 cm.) wide
20.79 oz. (646.5 gr.) gross

Acquired by Friedrich von Keßler (1875-1933), great-grandfather of the present owner, in St Petersburg between 1922 and 1925.

Specialist note

Friedrich von Keßler was a soldier in the Prussian army, who served as German liaison officer to the Committee for the Relief of Belgium, responsible for negotiations on behalf of the German military with Herbert Hoover. He subsequently entered the German Foreign Service after 1918, serving first at the ministry in Berlin, then as Consul-General in St Petersburg between 1922 and 1925. He next served as Consel-General in Batavia and finally in Cape Town.