MARKED FABERGÉ, WITH THE WORKMASTER'S MARK OF MICHAEL PERCHIN, ST PETERSBURG, 1899-1903, SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 8998

Details

A JEWELLED TWO-COLOUR GOLD-MOUNTED GUILLOCHÉ ENAMEL DESK CLOCK
MARKED FABERGÉ, WITH THE WORKMASTER'S MARK OF MICHAEL PERCHIN, ST PETERSBURG, 1899-1903, SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 8998
Square, with circular seed-pearl bezel on purple sunburst guilloché ground, the border enamelled in translucent salmon pink over a moiré guilloché ground, all within white enamel borders, applied with ribbon-tied arrows and laurel wreaths at corners, further applied with dories with entwined laurel caducae, the outer border cast and chased with acanthus leaves, the white enamel dial with black Arabic chapter and pierced gold hands, the ivory back with silver scroll strut, the back-plate with hand-set, marked on upper rim, back and strut
4 3/8 in. (11.1 cm.) high

Special Notice

Prospective purchasers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to coral, ivory and tortoiseshell. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country.

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Lot Essay

This lavishly decorated clock is a wonderful example of the two most popular techniques used by Fabergé workmasters: refined guilloché enamelling and applied varicolour gold decorations. Both techniques were inspired by the eighteenth-century French goldsmiths whose work was studied by Michael Perchin in the treasury of the Hermitage. The clock's seed-pearl bezel frequently appears in Fabergé's desk clock designs, and the varicolour gold laurel wreaths, arrows and caducae are typical of Perchin's decoration in Neoclassical taste.

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