A Fabergé nephrite and rock crystal postage stamp moistener, the rectangular body carved from a single piece of deep green nephrite, resting on four polished gold bun feet, decorated on each side with rose gold ribbons and green gold garlands embellished with rose-cut diamonds and small cabochon-cut rubies, the upper rim mounted in rose gold with a chased green-gold laurel leaf border, fitted with a detachable frosted rock crystal roller, the gold mounts bearing the kokoshnik assay mark for 56 zolotnik (14ct gold), St Petersburg, the workmaster’s mark of Feodor Afanassiev, and the scratched inventory number 14725, circa 1907, measuring approximately 6.3 × 4 × 4 cm, gross weight 152 grams.
Provenance:
Formerly in the collection of Baron Hans Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza, one of the most important private art collectors of the twentieth century; the Thyssen-Bornemisza family collection became the foundation of the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, one of Madrid's leading art museums.
Literature:
A. Somers Cocks and C. Truman, Renaissance Jewels, Gold Boxes and Objets de Vertu: The Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection, London, 1984, no. 123, pp. 338–339, illustrated.
A Fabergé jewelled varicoloured gold-mounted nephrite and rock crystal stamp dampener, workmaster Feodor Afanassiev, St Petersburg, 1904-1908
This antique stamp...
Category
20th Century Modern Caucasian Objets d'Art and Vertu