MARKED FABERGÉ, WITH THE WORKMASTER'S MARK OF MICHAEL PERCHIN, ST PETERSBURG, CIRCA 1890, SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 1260; THE BONBONNIÈRE, BY THE LUKUTIN FACTORY, MOSCOW, CIRCA 1890

Details

A RARE GEM-SET, GOLD-MOUNTED, LACQUERED PAPIER-MACHÉ BONBONNIÈRE
MARKED FABERGÉ, WITH THE WORKMASTER'S MARK OF MICHAEL PERCHIN, ST PETERSBURG, CIRCA 1890, SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 1260; THE BONBONNIÈRE, BY THE LUKUTIN FACTORY, MOSCOW, CIRCA 1890
Of circular form, the dark blue lacquered papier-maché bonbonnière with a hinged cover, applied with a finely chased gold dragonfly, the eyes set with cabochon moonstones, with a gold rim and a thumb-piece, marked on rims, the box with Lukutin Factory mark inside cover; in a fitted Wartski case
2 ½ in. (6.3 cm.) diameter

Provenance

With A La Vieille Russie, New York.
Acquired by the previous owner from Wartski, London, in 1982.
Thence by descent to the present owner.

Literature

K. Snowman, Carl Fabergé, Goldsmith to the Imperial Court of Russia, London, 1980, p. 41 (illustrated).

Conditions of sale

Brought to you by

Sarah Mansfield

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Lot Essay

This rare and unusual bonbonnière is inspired by the Japanese takamakie technique of creating a high relief in gold against a lacquer ground. However, in this case the finely chased gold dragonfly is actually applied on a lacquered box produced by the Lukutin Factory, rather than created by repeatedly applying layers of gold leaf as practiced by the takamakie craftsmen.

Fabergé's designers often drew inspiration from Japanese art. Carl Fabergé himself was an avid collector and kept over 500 netsuke in his flat on Bol’shaya Morskaya street.

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