20.11.2025

Very Rare Fabergé Silver, Engraved Rock Crystal and Guilloché Enamel Vase
Maker’s mark of “MP” and “Faberge”. Petersburg, 1898–1903.
Inv. No. 1163. Height: 7.6 cm. Total weight: 114.8 g

This rare Fabergé vase, crafted under the supervision of the firm’s leading workmaster Michael Perchin, exemplifies the refinement of late Imperial lapidary art. The delicately engraved rock crystal body rests on a silver base with translucent guilloché enamel in deep red.

The exceptional clarity and size of the smoky quartz used for this piece are remarkable, as such flawless crystals were sourced exclusively from the Ural Mountains and reserved for Fabergé’s workshops. Cutting rock crystal of this purity without fractures required exceptional skill, making this vase a true testament to the artistry of Fabergé’s lapidaries. Comparable vases are discussed in Franz Birbaum’s Memoirs (in: Habsburg & Lopato, Fabergé: Imperial Jeweller, Milan, 1993, p. 457).

Fabergé collaborated with several renowned stone-cutting centers, including the Imperial Peterhof Lapidary Works and workshops in Idar-Oberstein, Germany. After 1908, the firm’s own lapidaries, such as Peter Kremlev and Peter Derbychev, created masterpieces from hardstones within the Fabergé atelier.

Michael Perchin (1860–1903) was Fabergé’s chief workmaster from 1888 until his death in 1903. Trained under the court jeweler Vladimir Finikov, Perchin oversaw the creation of over 20,000 works, including twenty-eight Imperial Easter eggs and the celebrated Kelch series. His workshop produced many of Fabergé’s most technically sophisticated and artistically refined gold, silver, and hardstone objects, often in collaboration with his talented assistant Henrik Wigström, who succeeded him after 1903. Comparable Works:

Christie’s, London, Important Russian Silver, Works of Art and Fabergé, 28 November 2007, Lot 32: A Fabergé Gold-Mounted Rock Crystal and Guilloché Enamel Vase, Workmaster Michael Perchin, c.1898–1903 (https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-4857825)

Sotheby’s, London, Russian Works of Art, Fabergé and Icons, 30 November 2020: A Fabergé En Plein Enamel Gold-Mounted Rock Crystal Vase, early 20th century (https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2020/russian-works-of-art-faberge-and-icons/a-faberge-en-plein-enamel-gold-mounted-rock)

Starting price: 5000€
Estimate: 6000-8000€
Hammer Price: UNSOLD€

A Russian Gold and Gem-Set Smoking Set “Samorodok”
Maker’s mark of “FK”. Petersburg, late 19th century.
Dimensions of case: 7 × 14 × 2.7 cm. Total weight of items: 44.6 g.

A luxurious three-piece smoking set comprising a cigar cutter, mouthpiece, and matchbox, each crafted in gold with a fine samorodok texture and set with colored gemstones. Presented in the original fitted green leather case lined with silk and velvet.

Friedrich Koehli (1837–1909) founded his distinguished jewelry firm in St. Petersburg in 1874. Originally from Switzerland, Koehli rose to prominence as one of the most refined and technically skilled jewelers of the Imperial capital. By 1902, his firm had been appointed official supplier to the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna and Grand Duke Pavel Alexandrovich, and later to Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna, Duchess of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.

Koehli’s works — gold cigarette cases, enamel boxes, and diamond-set presentation gifts — were highly prized at the Imperial Court. He exhibited alongside Fabergé at the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle, serving as a member of the jury. In 1903, together with his son Theodor-Friedrich (Fyodor Fyodorovich) Koehli, he established the partnership F. & F. Koehli, which continued the family’s production of fine gold and enamel objects until 1911.

Koehli’s elegant creations, often distinguished by samorodok surfaces, fine enameling, and restrained gemstone settings, remain among the most sophisticated examples of St. Petersburg court jewelry at the turn of the century

Starting price: 3000€
Estimate: 3500-4500€
Hammer Price: 3000€

Egor Cheriatov. Silver enameled beaker in art-nouveau style.
Makers mark of «E. CH.». Moscow, 1913.
Engraving on one rim of “July 2, 1913”, on the other “L.E. Koenig – Heirs”
Silver beaker on four ball feet with polychrome opaque enamel decoration. 
This remarkable piece, created by the master jeweler Georgy (Egor) Kuzmich Cheryatov, embodies of Russian Art Nouveau style. With the bird-shaped handles with semi-precious cabochon stones incrustation.
Georgy Kuzmich Cheryatov (1873–1947) was head of the silver department of the Moscow jewelry firm Lorie. Trained as a silversmith at the turn of the century, he became one of the prominent exponents of the Neo-Russian style, a branch of national romanticism in decorative arts. Alongside his long-standing collaboration with Lorie, Cheryatov also produced independent works marked by individuality and artistic refinement.
Dimensions: 5.3 x 14.2 x 9.6 cm. Total weight: 206.5 g

Starting price: 4000€
Estimate: 5000-7000€
Hammer Price: 4000€

A. Sumin. Cameo Brooch with Nude in Original Case
Gold, chasing, agate.
Makers mark of «AK» and «Sumin». Petersburg, 1908-1914.
An elegant rectangular gold-mounted cameo brooch finely carved in banded agate, depicting a reclining nude holding a flower. The frame is decorated with chased foliate ornament and retains its original fitted leather case.
The brooch bears the maker’s mark of Andrey Karpenko, working for the renowned jeweler Avenir Sumin, one of the leading stonecutters of Imperial St. Petersburg. Avenir Sumin was the son of Ivan Sumin, a master stonecutter originally from the Imperial Lapidary Factory in Ekaterinburg who later established his own workshop in St. Petersburg under the name Siberian–Ural Stones. The firm gained recognition at national and international exhibitions, and after Ivan’s death in 1894 was continued by Avenir.
Trained under the jeweler Karl Werfel, Avenir Sumin expanded the workshop, located on Nevsky Prospect, and became best known for hardstone animal figures and luxury objects often compared to those of Fabergé. While his works matched Fabergé in quality, they were initially more affordable, leading to both competition and frequent confusion between the two firms. In 1913 Sumin was appointed official supplier to Empress Alexandra Feodorovna.
Weight: 30.6 g. Dimensions: 4.7 x 5.7 x 1.5 cm. Dimensions of the box: 7 x 7.5 x 3 cm.

Starting price: 2000€
Estimate: 2500-3500€
Hammer Price: 2000€

A Russian Gold-Mounted Agate Kovsh
Maker’s mark of Imperial Court Appraiser Friedrich Koehli (1837–1909)
Petersburg, late 19th century
Dimensions: 3 × 10.2 × 7.2 cm

Carved from richly banded agate in warm amber and cream tones, the kovsh is elegantly mounted with a sculptural gold handle of coiled, ribbon-like design. The refined balance between the natural stone’s beauty and the simplicity of its gold ornament reflects the sophisticated aesthetic of St. Petersburg court jewelers at the turn of the century.

Friedrich Koehli, a Swiss-born jeweler who founded his St. Petersburg firm in 1874, became one of the most respected goldsmiths of the Imperial Court. By 1902, his workshop was appointed official supplier to Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, Grand Duke Pavel Alexandrovich, and Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna, Duchess of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. Exhibiting alongside Fabergé at the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle, Koehli served as a jury member and gained international recognition.

In 1903 he partnered with his son, Theodor-Friedrich (Fyodor Fyodorovich) Koehli, establishing F. & F. Koehli, which continued to produce fine gold and enamel works until 1911.

Starting price: 2500€
Estimate: 3000-4000€
Hammer Price: UNSOLD€

Imperial Stroganov School. Silver and Enamel Plaque with Erotic Map of Moscow in original case. 
Silver, en-plein enamel.
Makers mark of «ISU» with Imperial warrant. Moscow, 1908-1917.
This rare enamel plaque combines technical mastery with biting satire and playful eroticism. It presents a female nude figure whose body is inscribed with the names of Moscow districts, transformed into risqué metaphors and humorous associations. At the top, the inscription records a “plan of the city of Moscow, survey of January 27 to 12 o’clock at night, 1899,” underlining the parody of cartographic precision.
In 1900, on its 75th anniversary, the School was granted the title Imperial Stroganov Central School of Industrial Art. By this time it operated eighteen workshops, including those for metalwork, enameling, jewelry, and casting, where students combined theoretical study with practical training. Guided by renowned masters, students produced works of remarkable quality, marked with the School’s special hallmark with Imperial warrant. These objects were presented as gifts, exhibited internationally, and sold through the School’s shop. Today, they are rare treasures, reflecting the peak of the national-romantic style in Russian decorative art.
Similar: https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6078035 Dimensions of the box: 18.2 х 11.3 х 2.5 cm. Dimensions of the palque: 16.4 х 8.2 cm.

Starting price: 15000€
Estimate: 18000-25000€
Hammer Price: 18000€

Imperial Stroganov school. Pendant with Double-Headed Eagle.
Silver-gilt, engraving, champleve enamel.
Makers mark og «ISU». Moscow, circa 1913.

This rare commemorative pendant was created in honor of the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty. The central medallion depicts a double-headed eagle, the emblem of the Russian Empire, highlighted with black champleve enamel and framed by stylized ornament. Produced by the renowned Imperial Stroganov School in Moscow
The Imperial Stroganov School played an active role in the celebrations of the Romanov Tercentenary. In May 1913, an exhibition of the School’s works was held at the Kremlin Armoury in Moscow, attended by the Imperial family. It is probable that objects comparable to the present piece were included in this exhibition.
The final All-Russian Exhibition took place in Kiev in 1913 and was dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty. The works of the Imperial Stroganov Central School of Industrial Art were exhibited “out of competition” in a dedicated pavilion and reflected both the Russian Revival and Art Nouveau styles.
Dimensions: 3 х 2.7 х 0.8 cm. Total weight: 13.5 g

Starting price: 1000€
Estimate: 1200-1500€
Hammer Price: UNSOLD€

A Russian Silver-Gilt and Guilloche Enamel Snuff Box
Odessa, 1908-1917
Dimensions: 4.6 x 1.2 cm
Weight: 30 g

Circular in form, the lid of the box is beautifully decorated with translucent pale blue guilloche enamel over an engine-turned sunburst pattern radiating from the center. The subtle tonality and precise craftsmanship exemplify the refined enamel work produced in Russia during the late Imperial period.

Guilloche enamel – a decorative technique perfected by the leading workshops of Faberge and his contemporaries – was widely admired for its ability to catch and reflect light through layers of translucent enamel applied over finely engraved metal.

Starting price: 150€
Estimate: 200-350€
Hammer Price: UNSOLD€

Imperial Stroganov school. Bonbonnière with enamel miniature. 
Metal, parcel-gilt, cloisonné and en plein enamel
Makers mark of «ISU» with Imperial warrant. Moscow, circa 1900s.
Diameter: 11 cm.
Height: 5 cm.

This circular bonbonnière is decorated with a en plein enamel miniature after Boris Kustodiev’s celebrated painting Merchant’s Wife at Tea. The image of the stately beauty at a richly laid tea table, surrounded by fruit and a samovar, became one of the iconic motifs of the Russian Revival in early 20th-century art. The miniature is framed by elaborate cloisonné enamel ornament with stylized floral motifs, characteristic of the Stroganov workshops.
The Imperial Stroganov School, founded in Moscow in 1825 by Count Sergey Grigorievich Stroganov (1794–1882), had become by the end of the 19th century one of Russia’s leading centers of art and design education. The School maintained 29 specialized workshops, equipped with the most advanced technology of the time. Works by its students and masters were exhibited at both national and international exhibitions, sold through the School’s own shop, and enjoyed wide popularity.

Starting price: 2500€
Estimate: 3500-4500€
Hammer Price: 3500€

A Russian Enamelled Copper Bowl
Usolye (Solvychegodsk), 18th century
Dimensions: 2.5 х 10 х 10 cm.

Painted in vibrant polychrome enamel with a central medallion depicting a dancing figure among tulips and foliage, the interior framed by scrolling floral ornament on a white ground. The exterior is richly decorated with floral motifs in circular reserves against a deep cobalt-blue background.

This bowl exemplifies the artistic excellence of the Usolye (Solvychegodsk) enamelling tradition of northern Russia, which flourished in the seventeenth century under the patronage of the Stroganov family. Originating from workshops established by Novgorod craftsmen in the mid-sixteenth century, the Usolye style is distinguished by its vivid palette, strong contour lines, and decorative rhythm derived from folk and wooden carving traditions.

By the second half of the seventeenth century, Usolye masters perfected the technique of painted enamel on copper, covering entire surfaces with colorful floral designs, birds, and narrative scenes. The favorite motifs included tulips, sunflowers, and whimsical figures inspired by both Russian folklore and Western engravings.

Comparable examples of Usolye enamelled wares are preserved in the State Historical Museum, Moscow, and the Armoury Chamber of the Moscow Kremlin.

Starting price: 6000€
Estimate: 8000-12000€
Hammer Price: UNSOLD€

Imperial porcelain manufactory. Plaque «Lady Holding a Snuffbox»
Porcelain, silver, chasing.
Makers mark of «DO». Porcelain – second half of the 18th century, silver – 1898-1908.
Dimensions: 7.9 x 8.9 x 1.2 cm.
Total weight: 78.3 g

Painted porcelain plaque depicting a young woman in a lace bonnet and blue dress, shown holding a small snuffbox and a note inscribed with the recipient’s name, Cabinet Courier Bartenev. This plaque referred to the inner side of the lid of a “Packet” Snuffbox addressed to Cabinet Courier Bartenev (Imperial Porcelain Factory. 1750s). See the attachments.
“Packet” snuffboxes were so called because they resembled small postal envelopes or packets. Such snuffboxes were not only used for storing tobacco, but also as a discreet “love mail” exchange in fashionable society.
Silver Workshop of Dmitry Ivanovich Orlov
Founded by Serpukhov merchant Dmitry Orlov, the workshop grew into one of Moscow’s leading producers of silver church vessels. By the 1870s it employed up to 200 craftsmen and collaborated with artists and sculptors, earning a Large Silver Medal at the 1865 Moscow Manufacturing Exhibition.
References: S. N. Kazakov. “Packet” Snuffboxes of the Imperial Porcelain Factory. St. Petersburg, 1913. P. 173-177.

Starting price: 1200€
Estimate: 1500-2000€
Hammer Price: UNSOLD€

Boucheron. Table barometer.
Agate, gold, enamel.
Enamel sign on a dial «Boucheron». Paris, 1900s.
Diameter: 7.2 cm.

A luxurious example of Art Nouveau jewelry craftsmanship from the legendary House of Boucheron – an exquisite desk barometer created for true connoisseurs of refinement. This rare piece combines the functionality of a meteorological instrument with the elegance of a precious accessory, embodying the mastery of Parisian artisans of the early 20th century.
The circular frame is carved from natural agate and encircled by a delicate gold bezel adorned with a floral motif. The dial is decorated with white champlevé enamel over a guilloché ground, producing a play of light and shadow characteristic of haute joaillerie. The piece demonstrates Boucheron’s signature attention to detail, from the virtuoso guilloché background to the striking contrast between matte agate and gleaming gold.
Comparable pieces:
Boucheron desk clock in similar style: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/190373014_boucheron-art-deco-nephrite-jade-black-onyx-r-dallas-tx 
 Fabergé bowenite barometer: https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-1904167

Starting price: 2000€
Estimate: 2500-3500€
Hammer Price: UNSOLD€

A Russian Hardstone Paperweight “Berries”
Ekaterinburg Stone-Cutting and Lapidary Factory
Mid-19th century
Dimensions: 11.5 x 18 x 7 cm.

A naturalistic hardstone composition depicting a cluster of raspberries, currants, and cherries, carved from Ural gems including jasper, serpentine, rock crystal, carnelian, selenite, marble, and coral. The fruits and leaves are mounted on a tiered dark stone base.

This type of decorative object, combining meticulous craftsmanship with naturalistic precision, was a hallmark of Ural lapidary art of the 19th century. Such compositions were produced at the Ekaterinburg Imperial Lapidary Works, renowned for their mastery in working semi-precious stones sourced from the Urals.

Comparable works:
Similar fruit and berry groups, carved from chalcedony, carnelian, smoky quartz, and agate, often mounted on dark stone bases, are preserved in the State Hermitage Museum (St. Petersburg) and the A. E. Fersman Mineralogical Museum (Moscow).

Starting price: 2500€
Estimate: 3000-3500€
Hammer Price: 2500€

Russian Silver and Blue Opaline Glass Paperweight. 
Moscow, 1874
. Bakhmetiev Glass Factory
. Cast silver, opaline glass.
Dimensions: 5.2 x 12.8 x 8.8 cm.

A luminous blue opaline glass paperweight, its surface inlaid with scrolling silver ornament and surmounted by a finely cast silver blossom. Produced at the renowned Bakhmetiev (later Никольский) Glass Factory, it reflects the Russian tradition of elevating glassmaking to the level of decorative art.
The factory was founded in 1764 in the Penza province by Alexei Ivanovich Bakhmetev, with the permission of Catherine the Great. Despite being almost destroyed during the Pugachev uprising, the enterprise was rebuilt and by the 1830s had become one of the leading crystal producers in Russia. Its wares ranged from luxurious cut, engraved and enameled vessels for the nobility and the Imperial Court—earning the right in 1836 to mark production with the state emblem—to high-quality household glass admired for clarity, brilliance, and resonant tone.
Under Prince A. D. Obolensky, who took ownership in 1884, the factory expanded, employing nearly 1,000 workers and establishing schools, a hospital, and even a theater. Generations of master craftsmen, such as the celebrated Vershinin-Protasov family, created virtuoso works, including unique double-layered glasses with miniature landscapes between the walls.

Starting price: 600€
Estimate: 700-900€
Hammer Price: UNSOLD€

A Silver and Onyx Composition “Caucasian Leopard”
Joseph Marshak Firm, Kiev, 1908–1917
Dimensions: 8 × 14.5 × 6.3 cm
Total weight: 646 g

Cast in silver, the dynamic figure of a prowling leopard is depicted descending a rocky slope, mounted on a polished green onyx base. The front plaque bears the Cyrillic inscription “Кавказский барсъ” (Caucasian Leopard). Maker’s mark of the Joseph Marshak firm.

Iosif Abramovich Marshak (1854–1918) was one of Imperial Russia’s foremost jewelers, often referred to as the “Cartier of Kiev” or “Ukrainian Fabergé.” He founded his workshop in 1878, which developed into a major jewelry enterprise on Khreshchatyk Street. The firm’s innovative production methods, employment of both male and female artisans, and participation in international exhibitions in Chicago (1893) and Antwerp (1894) earned Marshak worldwide acclaim.

Marshak’s workshop produced exquisite jewelry, presentation silverware, clocks, and commemorative objects, admired for their refined craftsmanship and artistic individuality.

Starting price: 2500€
Estimate: 3000-4000€
Hammer Price: UNSOLD€

Round Stone Box “Berries Still Life”
. Ekaterinburg, mid-19th century
Various Ural gemstones.
 Height: 9.5 cm.

A finely crafted hardstone box, its lid surmounted by a miniature still life of berries, carved from a variety of Ural gemstones in naturalistic shades of amber, honey, and deep orange. The base, turned from dark stone, provides a contrasting ground that highlights the delicate translucency and warm colors of the fruits above.
Comparable works
Related Ural hardstone compositions—fruit and berry groups carved from chalcedony, carnelian, smoky quartz and agate, often set on dark stone stands—are held in the State Hermitage Museum (St Petersburg) and in the A. E. Fersman Mineralogical Museum (Moscow).

Starting price: 600€
Estimate: 800-1000€
Hammer Price: UNSOLD€

Russian Silver-Gilt and Quartzite Tray in the Form of a Fish. 
Maker’s mark of Avenir Sumin, St. Petersburg, 1908–1917. 
Belorechensk quartzite, silver-gilt
.
Dimensions: 3.5 × 13.5 × 9.3 cm

Total weight: 109.5 g

A whimsical tray in the form of a stylized fish, its body carved from richly veined Belorechensk quartzite and mounted in finely worked silver-gilt. The scales and tail are engraved with delicate precision, while the eye is set with a warm cabochon, lending the object both humor and elegance.
The piece bears the mark of Avenir Sumin, one of the most renowned stonecutting jewelers of late Imperial Russia and an official supplier to Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. Known for combining vividly colored hardstones with refined silver mounts, Sumin created objects that appealed to both Russian and international collectors.

Starting price: 4500€
Estimate: 5000-7000€
Hammer Price: UNSOLD€