Fabergé Friday

For me, one thing that says summer has come to Sweden is when the swallows have arrived. This haven't happened yet. But while we're waiting, here is a swallow from Fabergé! It was commissioned by King Edward VII in 1907, as part of the Sandringham Commission.

This very life-like little bird is carved from obsidian and white quartzite. It has eyes of rose-cut diamonds, and feet made of gold. The size of the swallow is 1'' x 2.5'' x 0.6'' (2.5 x 6.4 x 1.6 cm), and it is part of the Royal Collection.

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Fabergé Friday

Fabergé created many, many miniature animals. Several of them were part of a big animal-commission called the Sandringham Commission, ordered by King Edward VII in 1907. I've already shown you a few critters from that collection, and here comes another one - a little rat!

The rat is made of chalcedony and has silver ears and a silver tail, both set with rose diamonds. The dimensions of the little animal are 0.9'' x 1.8'' x 0.8'' (2.2 x 4.6 x 2 cm), and it now lives in the Royal Collection.

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Fabergé Friday

Christmas is just around the corner, and one Christmas decoration I wouldn't mind putting on my mantlepiece - if I had a mantlepiece - is this Fabergé holly sprig! It was made by workmaster Henrik Wigström, around 1908!

The twig sits in a glass made of rock crystal, which emulates both the glass and the water in it. It has a stem made of gold, leaves of nephrite, and red purpurine berries. The dimensions of the piece is 5.6'' x 3.1'' x 3.1'' (14.1 x 8 x 8 cm), and it was purchased by Mrs George Keppel on a visit to Fabergé's shop in London with Edward VII in 1908. She was a long-time mistress of the king. Now it is part of the Royal Collection.

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Fabergé Friday

You have to excuse the loss of Fabergé Friday last week. I was performing in the International Stockholm Burlesque Festival that day. So, well, I was a bit busy getting my striptease on... But here we go again, and today I have a pine tree for you. It was made around the year 1908!

The gold pine tree sits in a pot carved from bowenite on a platform of aventurine quartz. Amidst the pine needles sits little brilliant-cut diamonds. This botanical study is said to have been modelled from life at Sandringham, perhaps in 1907 when Fabergé's sculptors were there working on a commission for animal portrait models for King Edward VII. In 1908 the Prince of Wales, later King George V, bought this plant from Fabergé's London branch. It can now be found in the Royal Collection.

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Fabergé Friday

As I've said before, Fabergé made many, many little animal miniatures out of precious materials, and here is one more of those -  a parrot on a perch! Made by workmaster Mikhail Perkhin 1903!

This little parrot is carved from agate, and has eyes of rose-cut diamonds. It is resting on a perch of gold, decorated with white enamel and diamonds. It's dimensions is 5.7'' x 2.8'' x 2.4'' (14.5 x 7.2 x 6.2 cm).

The bird was bought by King Edward VII in 1907. His wife Queen Alexandra was very fond of parrots, and several photos from her days show that she kept several birds, in both cages and on perches, in her dressing room. Now this Fabergé parrot is perching in the Royal Collection though.

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Fabergé Friday

During this time of year a lot of candles are being lit. So what could be of more use than a Fabergé match holder?! This one was made by workmaster Erik Kollin, sometime before 1896!

I like the mix of simple and extravagant in this one! The box itself is made of brick. But the ornate handles are of gold, formed as entwined snakes. 

On the head of each snake sits a cabochon sapphire, and between their noses they hold a pearl. The size of the box is 2.1'' x 4.5'' x 1.9'' (5.3 x 11.5 x 4.9 cm), and it was bought by King Edward VII. Now the match holder is part of the Royal Collection.

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Fabergé Friday

It's December 13th, which means we celebrate Saint Lucia in Sweden today. It's also Friday 13th. But - most of all - it's Fabergé Friday! So here comes a cute dormouse, made around the year 1910!

This little figurine in the form of a dormouse is carved our of chalcedony. It has sapphire eyes and platinum whiskers, and is nibbling on a few straws made of gold. The size of the mouse is 2.4'' x 2'' x 2.3'' (6.2 x 5.2 x 5.8 cm), and no other dormouse is known to have been made by Fabergé. It was bought at Fabergé's London branch by Queen Alexandra, consort of King Edward VII, on November 5th, 1912, and is now part of The Royal Collection.

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