A PARCEL-GILT SILVER TABLE LIGHTER IN THE FORM OF A SEATED BABOON
拍品 221 PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT AMERICAN COLLECTION

A PARCEL-GILT SILVER TABLE LIGHTER IN THE FORM OF A SEATED BABOON

MARKED FABERGÉ, WITH THE WORKMASTER'S MARK OF JULIUS RAPPOPORT, ST PETERSBURG, CIRCA 1890, SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 412

已結束2016年6月6日

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GBP 37,500

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A PARCEL-GILT SILVER TABLE LIGHTER IN THE FORM OF A SEATED BABOON
MARKED FABERGÉ, WITH THE WORKMASTER'S MARK OF JULIUS RAPPOPORT, ST PETERSBURG, CIRCA 1890, SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 412
Realistically cast, as a sitting baboon, holding its tail shaped as a lighter, the surface finely chased and engraved to simulate fur, its hinged head opening to reveal the lighter fluid compartment, the hollow tail providing the outlet for the taper, interior gilt, marked under base
4 1/8 in. (10.5 cm.) high
13.29 oz. (413.3 gr.)

專家說明

For a nearly identical silver table lighter see Exhibition catalogue, Fabergé A La Vieille Russie, New York, 1983, no. 404, p. 114. A comparable table lighter was sold Christie’s, New York, 19 October 2001, lot 90.

This group of silver animals exemplifies Fabergé's ability to transform functional items, such as bell-pushes and lighters, into sculptural works of art. Julius Rappoport was probably the first artisan to make silver animals for Fabergé and was the leading designer of silver animal figures for the firm until his retirement in 1909. From then on Fabergé commissioned its silver animals to the First Silver Artel who were given all production molds from Rappoport's stock.

The design influences for these animals, which are both imaginatively and realistically observed, varied from European functional silver sculptures to far-eastern animal figures and Japanese netsuke, in particular. The bell-push shaped as a frog (Lot 219) is a great example of this influence. As with other works, the success of Fabergé silver animals was determined by its clientele. Both decorative and functional, these silver objects held broad appeal and were even sold from the Fabergé branch in London, like the bear bell-push (lot 220).

For more detailed information on Fabergé silver animals, see G. Von Habsburg, Fabergé Imperial Craftsman and His World, London, 2000, pp. 102-108.