Lot 539
- 539
A Fabergé silver-mounted wood box, workmaster Hjalmar Armfeldt, St Petersburg, 1908-1917
Estimate
30,000 - 50,000 GBP
Log in to view results
bidding is closed
Description
- wood (Dalbergia retusa), silver
- width 35cm, 13 3/4 in.
in neoclassical taste, the hinged lid applied with initials NSR within an oval reserve flanked by opposing acanthus and laurel within a wide border with foliate scroll corners, the sides with laurel festoons suspending from bows, the projecting corners applied with acanthus volutes, the borders of entrelac, bound laurel and leaf tips, on circular gadrooned feet, struck with workmater's initials and Fabergé in Cyrillic, 88 standard
Provenance
Nadja Schmid von Grünegg
Thence by descent
Literature
Illustrated, T. Fabergé, E.-A. Kohler and V. Skurlov, Fabergé: A Comprehensive Reference Book, Geneva, 2012, p. 91.
Condition
Generally in very good condition. One hinge pin is broken, some of the nails holding the applied mounts are lacking. In need of a professional clean.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
The use of wood is in keeping with Fabergé's stated principle of using materials for their decorative properties rather than their intrinsic value, and a surprisingly vast and varied range of wood objects were produced in both Moscow and St Petersburg. In addition to Armfeldt, workmasters Perchin, Wigström, Aarne, Thielemann, Nevalainen and Rappoport (see lot 541), worked with wood, mounting photograph frames, table boxes, bowls, desk sets, bell pushes, full-sized tables and other items, usually in silver, but occasionally in gold with the addition of enamel and gems. In his article on Fabergé's wood production, Kieran McCarthy suggests that the wood elements were supplied by the same workshop which made Fabergé's fitted retail cases, run by the Finnish woodworkers Käki, Kämära and Ampuja. (See K. McCarthy, 'Forgotten Fabergé', Antique Dealers and Collectors Guide, May-June 2004, pp. 40-42.)