Trefoil-Shaped Rock Crystal, Gold and Silver-Gilt Desk Clock

by Fabergé

workmaster Mikhail Perkhin, St Petersburg, circa 1895 struck with workmaster’s initials and Fabergé in Cyrillic, gold mark of 56 zolotniks and silver mark of 88 zolotniks, scratched with Fabergé inventory no. 3228 height: 11 cm

Provenance:

Sale: Sotheby’s New York, 8 December 1992, lot 185, price realised $46,200

A la Vieille Russie, New York

The Forbes Collection

Exhibitions:

The World of Fabergé: Russian Gems and Jewels, Museum of Natural Science, Houston, 11 February – 10 July 1994

Literature:

The World of Fabergé: Russian Gems and Jewels, Houston, 1994, illustrated p. 46

M. Kelly, Fabergé Table Clock // Chronos, Fall/Winter 1995, illustrated p. 64 Fabergé. Forbes Collection, 1999, p. 125 (illustrated)

Rare and unusual trefoil-shaped Fabergé crystal clock. The crystal panel is centred with a circular silver-gilt and white enamelled dial with Arabic numerals, set with a bezel of green enamelled laurel with diamonds and backed with a scroll gold strut. Attached to the dial are three smaller ribbontied laurel wreaths mounted with red cabochons and diamonds.

A similar rock crystal clock from the collection of Frank Sinatra was auctioned at Christie’s, New York, December 1, 1995, lot 56.