Jewelled Gold-Mounted Rock Crystal Kovsh

by Fabergé

A rare and important kovsh, the carved rock crystal body engraved with delicate strapwork and floral garlands, the prow features a chased and engraved gold mount set with a single cabochon ruby and diamonds, a gadrooned gold stem supports a finial of chased acanthus enclosing a diamond-set pinecone, the chased gold handle shaped as elaborate foliate scrolls and set with bands of diamonds and six cabochon rubies, centred with a large octagonal portrait diamond.

workmaster Mikhail Perkhin, St Petersburg, 1899-1903 struck with workmaster’s initials and Fabergé hallmark, gold mark of 56 zolotniks, scratched with Fabergé inventory no. 2384 length: 15 cm

A similar kovsh in nephrite by Mikhail Perkhin is in the collection of the Topkapi Museum in Istanbul. This piece was presented by Tsar Nicholas II to S.M. Sultan Abdul Hamid II.