Daria Khristova nee Chernenko
Department Director
Lot 94*
A fine nephrite model of a rodentFabergé, St. Petersburg, circa 1900
7 June 2017, 15:00 BST
London, New Bond StreetSold for £35,000 inc. premium
Looking for a similar item?
Our Russian Paintings and Works of Art specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.
Find your local specialistAsk about this lot
A fine nephrite model of a rodent
Fabergé, St. Petersburg, circa 1900
realistically carved in emerald green nephrite as a seated rodent, twisting to the side and holding the tail with two front paws, finely carved details imitating fur and skin texture, with sapphire cabochon-set eyes within silver-gilt rims, in associated period wooden box lined with cream silk and stamped with the firm's logo
height: 6.3cm (2 3/8in).
realistically carved in emerald green nephrite as a seated rodent, twisting to the side and holding the tail with two front paws, finely carved details imitating fur and skin texture, with sapphire cabochon-set eyes within silver-gilt rims, in associated period wooden box lined with cream silk and stamped with the firm's logo
height: 6.3cm (2 3/8in).
Footnotes
A fine example of the firm's hardstone carving technique and celebrated lapidary art. Fascinated with the art of Japanese netsuke, which was considered incredibly sophisticated and stylish at the time, Fabergé firm's designers were inspired by netsuke's compactness and expressive character. Small carved animal subjects rendered in ivory or wood and produced in large numbers during the Meiji period (1868-1912) became an exotic import from Japan in the late 19th century. It is well known that Peter Carl Fabergé was an avid collector and was able to assemble a large collection of 500 examples. Many of the netsukes from his collection became models for future production of small hardstone figures carved by the Faberge Firm and sold to sophisticated clients in St.Petersburg and Moscow.
This fine example features a rat or a mouse seated half-turned, with finely carved paws, feet and textured tail coiling around its body. It is ideally compact, sculptural and humorous. Rodents were often a symbol of prosperity and perseverance, given their success in sourcing food supplies.