Tremblant diamond peony spray brooch, mounted in silver and gold.Diamonds total circa 29 cts. Length 9.5 cm. Russia, circa 1870. This jewel symbolizes prosperity, strength, and plenty, and features an ear of wheat and oak leaf that recall the Greater Coat of Arms of the Russian Empire. Photo courtesy A La Vieille Russie
Tremblant diamond and peridot dragonfly brooch, mounted in silver and gold. Width 7 cm. England, circa 1890. Photo courtesy A La Vieille Russie
A natural pearl and diamond cluster necklace, mounted in silver and gold. Length 44.5 cm. England, circa 1890. Photo courtesy A La Vieille Russie
NEW YORK, NY.- Rare Fabergé animals and jeweled Russian Imperial gifts are some of the highlights of an exhibition by the prominent Fifth Avenue jeweler and antique dealer, A La Vieille Russie (ALVR), to be held at The European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF) in Maastricht (March 14-23).
Art works will include Fabergé silver and hardstone animal sculptures, an enameled snuffbox given to the Imperial family doctor by Czar Nicholas II on occasion of the birth of his daughter, and also a bonbonniere once owned by the powerful London banker, Leopold de Rothschild.
"We wish to show the substance, design, quality, and beauty of jeweled items from earlier eras, and we will have a strong selection of Fabergé and Imperial jewels," said Mark Schaffer, a partner in ALVR. "There will be a wide range of jeweled animals – rabbits, horses, dragonflies, crabs, elephants, turtles, monkeys, dogs, fish, and etc.; we have an entire wearable menagerie of antique animal jewelry, and a fantastic collection of Fabergé hardstone and silver animals with excellent provenance."
Other significant jewels will include a 1920s diadem made by French jeweler Chaumet, and a spectacular 19th century Russian tremblant diamond peony brooch.
A 1920s diadem made by French jeweler Chaumet. Photo courtesy A La Vieille Russie
The hardstone Fabergé circus elephants include a 6.5cm tall jasper elephant with rose diamond eyes (c. 1900) that was once owned by HRH Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, son of King George V and Queen Mary. There is also a 10cm tall silver stamp moistener (c. 1895) in the form of an elephant standing on its head and forelegs, hind legs up in the air, and the tail serving as the moistener.
A selection of objects by Fabergé. Photo courtesy A La Vieille Russie
Golden quartz sculpture of a lion with elaborately carved mane. Length 5.6 cm. St. Petersburg, circa 1900. Photo courtesy A La Vieille Russie
Nephrite egg-form photograph frame, decorated with two-color gold bows and swags, on a gold base. By workmaster Michael Perchin. Height 6 cm. St. Petersburg, circa 1896. Photo courtesy A La Vieille Russie
Square gold and raspberry guilloché enamel and pearl photograph frame. By workmaster Henrik Wigström. Height 7.6 cm. St. Petersburg, circa 1910. Photo courtesy A La Vieille Russie
Provenance: Purchased from Fabergé’s London branch by H.M. Queen Alexandra (1844-1925) November 13, 1911.
Gold basketweave design box. By workmaster Erik Kollin. Length 4.5 cm. St. Petersburg, circa 1880. Photo courtesy A La Vieille Russie
Among the Imperial presentation pieces is an enamel snuffbox by jeweler Karl Hahn given by Czar Nicholas II and Czarina Alexandra to the family doctor who delivered the their eldest daughter, Olga, in 1895. The snuffbox has Alexandra’s Imperial cipher in diamonds, with ``1895, Tsarskoe Selo’’ inscribed. ALVR will also offer a Fabergé bonbonniere (1908) purchased by Leopold de Rothschild from Fabergé with articulated clown figures from the famous Italian opera, Pagliacci.
An enameled snuffbox given to the Imperial family doctor by Czar Nicholas II. Photo courtesy A La Vieille Russie