Search

Transcription: [double-headed eagle] DACHSUND [sic] Beautiful, detailed figure of a dachshund, created by Karl Faberge, illustrious court jeweler to the monarchs of Europe and Asia, and especially to the last two Tsars of Russia. It is carved in fine, brown agate. Each movement of the little body, subtly expressed, contributes to the whole rhythmical form. The eyes are set with cabochon rubies. Number 5478-5 Mrs. John L. Pratt January 10, 1940 FROM THE HAMMER COLLECTION – 682 FIFTH AVENUE – NEW YORK

Transcription: [double-headed eagle] PANSY Beautifully composed spray of pansies, featured in rock crystal, fashioned to represent a small vase filled with water. On a single stem of gold, three branchlets [sic] divide, each topped with a blossom carved in golden-hued and carnelian agate. Petals, engraved with simulated veinings,[sic] curl realistically, held by calyxes of gold, and centers are set, each with a diamond. Nephrite leaves group mainly along one long branchlet,[sic] reaching toward the light in their ascent. Karl Faberge, Russian court jeweler to the last two sovereigns of the Old Empire, created the little fantasy. It bears his name in Russian; initials of one of his ablest assistants, Henrik Wigstroem; the numeral "72" denoting the Russian equivalent of 18 kt. gold; and an assay device, in all likelihood that of St. Petersburg, now obscured. Number 5509 Mrs. John L. Pratt January 9, 1940 FROM THE HAMMER COLLECTION – 682 FIFTH AVENUE – NEW YORK

Transcription: [double-headed eagle] RUSSIAN IMPERIAL TREASURES Article Nos. 5523-5524 Pair of icons depicting Saint Savior and "Our Lady of Iberia." They are painted on wood in warm coloring with artistically wrought trappings of gold on silver, set with Ural stones. The Greek symbols on either side of the halos signify Jesus Christ and Mother of God respectively. They were made by the court jeweler, Karl Faberge, master craftsman and designer and are all marked with his full name beneath the Double-headed Eagle of Royal Appointment, and the figures "88" which denote a very high quality of Russian silver. The icons are backed with cerise velvet and are contained in the original boxes of Holly wood, lined with silk and velvet and are also marked with the name of the court jeweler. These icons were made for the last Czar, Nicholai II, and were found in his quarters in the Alexander Palace, Tsarskoye Selo. Mrs. John L. Pratt FROM THE HAMMER COLLECTION – 682 FIFTH AVENUE – NEW YORK

Transcription: [double-headed eagle] RUSSIAN IMPERIAL EXHIBIT January 4th, 1934. Article No. 5528

Transcription: [double-headed eagle] RUSSIAN IMPERIAL EXHIBIT March 26th, 1934. Article No. 5538 An icon painted on wood on a background of gold with a border of rich enamel in Byzantine design. It has a brass trapping and is enclosed in original wood and velvet-lined case. "St. Nicholas the Wonder Worker". A painting of exquisite detail and coloring. It was presented to Nicholai II when he was still the Tsarevitch. The sticker on the back of the box reads: "To the Grand Duke Nicholai Alexandrovitch, 19th of July, 1882." It has the city museum inventory number, Anitchkov Palace, 6819. From the quarters of Nicholai II in the Anitchkov Palace before he became the Tsar of Russia. The fascinating history of icons dates back to the time of the pyramids in Egypt, but the oldest examples today are to be found in the Russian churches. The primary influence was that of the Byzantine which accounts for their resemblance to the Italina (sic) Primitive, with which we are more familiar. The spiritual feeling in these works of art is the expression of the monks who painted them after long and fervent prayer.

Transcription: [double-headed eagle] RUSSIAN IMPERIAL TREASURES Article No. 5547 Dainty spray of corn flowers, fashioned of gold, enamel and diamonds, supported in a small vase of rock crystal. The workmanship on the foliage and buds shows the most exclusive care in fashioning truly after nature. The enamel of deep blue is extremely clear. The stamen and pistils are each set with a small shiny diamond. The workmanship of the flower itself is by Faberge, the famous court jeweler, while the crystal vase was ground after his design in the Imperial Grinding Factory at Ekaterinburg. Among the most delightful creations made by Faberge for Czar Nicholai II, was a collection of flowers and berries, made of gold, jade and precious stones. Many of the blossoms and berries were enameled in life like-colors. The small vases of rock crystal seem to be filled with water. These delicate pieces brought great joy and pleasure to the Czar and it was a happy occasion when he presented them to some of the members of the Imperial Family. Mrs. J. L. Pratt June 21st, 1935.

Transcription: [double-headed eagle] GLOBE Terrestrial globe fashioned of remarkably clear topaz, intricately carved with a map of the Earth and its great divisions. It rests on a solid gold tripod, nested in the base of which is a compass. The frame-stand is encircled with a wide gold rim band engraved to show the units of longitude reckoned 180 degrees East to West or 15 degrees to the hour, the months of the year inscribed in Russian, and the corresponding signs of the Zodiac. Poles are represented by small gold markers engraved with the hours of the day, and these attach to the latitude indicator measuring the distance on the earth's surface northward and southward from the Equator. Hinged to this is the terrestrial Meridian index. A rarity even among the exceptional objects of fantasy and the bibelots created by Karl Faberge, illustrious Court Jeweler to Tsars Aleksandr III and Nikolai II of Russia, the piece is hallmarked with the initials "EK" of the master's leading goldsmith, Edward Kollin; the numeral "56" denoting the Russian equivalent of 14 kt. gold; and crossed anchors and sceptre, device of the St. Petersburg assay office. From the Imperial Russian Collection. Number 5550-1 Mrs. John L. Pratt January 5, 1940 FROM THE HAMMER COLLECTION – 682 FIFTH AVENUE – NEW YORK

Transcription: [double-headed eagle] RUSSIAN IMPERIAL TREASURES Article No. 5570 Snuff box of gold, period and style of Alexander II. Russian, circa 1860. The design, exquisitely chased, is of oak leaves and acorns, inlaid with transparent enamel in dark blue. It is marked "56" the Russian equivalent of 14 Karat gold, the profile of the Government Assay Office and the impressed number "2073." Very lightly cut is the original order number of the maker "P154." [4 crossed out and 0 handwritten]. From the Imperial snuff box collection of His Imperial Majesty the Czar in the Alexander Palace, Tsarskoye Selo.

Transcription: [double-headed eagle] Article No. 5571 Magnificent gold snuffbox in oval shape with hinged lid. It is hand-wrought with a chased gold mounting. The lid has an oval gray and white cameo, masterfully carved with a mythological sea scene, signed "W. Eissel", outstanding German master. This is framed with fifty large diamonds and about one hundred small ones. The edge is in carved scroll design including two gargoyles over lapis blue enamel, and set with many diamonds, four of which are about one karat each. The sides are finished in the same treatment, having the crown and monogram of Kaiser Wilhelm in the front and the German imperial eagle in the back, all set in diamonds. The crown also has two rubies. At either end are small round cameos of mermen by the same master. Four kneeling cherubim, placed within shells of blue enamel and diamonds, support the cover. The bottom of the box is engraved with another sea scene showing Neptune and Venus receiving homage, while the background is again of blue enamel. This box was made for the Kaiser of Germany, and was so admired by Nicholai II, the former presented him with it. From the Snuffbox Collection of Nicholai II and his wife Alexandra, in the Alexander Palace, Tsarskoye Selo.

Transcription: [double-headed eagle] PARASOL HANDLE Long parasol handle of spinach jade, gold, and enamel. The smoothly formed top is finished with a wide collar of red and green gold applied with opaque white enamel and red-carnelian champ-leve enamel on a guilloche undersurface. This is rimmed in fluent wreath effect in the characteristically classic manner of its maker, Karl Faberge, eminent court jeweler to Tsars Aleksandr III and Nikolai II of Russia. The object is hallmarked with the Russian initials of one of the master's artist-assistants, Mikhail Perchin; the numeral "56" denoting the Russian equivalent of 14 kt. gold; and the device of the St. Petersburg assay office, crossed anchors and sceptre. Number 5625-11 Mrs. John L. Pratt January 5, 1940 FROM THE HAMMER COLLECTION – 682 FIFTH AVENUE – NEW YORK