The enduring appeal of Fabergé timepieces
Timepieces by Fabergé come in myriad designs. Their primary time-telling function is always clear, usually displayed on a plain white enamelled face with Arabic chapters.
The variety of designs is astonishing!
A focus on selected Fabergé clocks...
King George I of the Hellenes’ Fabergé Nephrite Clock
(first published in Autumn 2012)
Back in 2012, I completed some research into the design and fabrication of this magnificent clock, 100 years after it was made in Henrik Wigström's workshop in 1912. While researching this piece, I tracked down a second clock of the same design.
Discover the difference between Workshop Production Numbers and Fabergé Retail Inventory numbers in this article, first published as a summary version in the Fabergé Research Site Newsletter of Fall 2012.
Image courtesy of Wartski London.
The late Prince Philip's Fabergé Star of David Clock
This desk clock is by Fabergé St. Petersburg, Workmaster Mikhaïl Perkhin, 1899-1903
.
It was inherited in 1965 by HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, from his aunt, Queen Louise of Sweden. A princely gift indeed...
A comparative Fabergé clock, in blue & white enamel, was sold by Sotheby’s New York in the Lily & Edmund Safra Sale on 3 Nov 2005, Lot 37.
In this article I describe the proportions of the design, as well as the symbolism of the star.
Image Copyright © The Royal Collection.
The circular Fabergé clock, in guilloché enamel.
Fabergé clocks are relatively scarce. Of the hundreds of items sold at the Fabergé London store in Bond Street, around 70 pieces were clocks.
Given their rarity, they tend to fetch high prices in the auction rooms. I particularly admire the restrained, unadorned elegance of these circular guilloché enamel timepieces, which shimmer in the light as you move.
Here are some pointers about what to look out for.
Image courtesy of Sotheby's London.
Three colour variations of a Fabergé triptych clock design by Victor Aarne.
Fabergé Workmaster Victor Aarne is renowned for his diminutive jewelled photograph frames in guilloché enamel, often mounted with exquisite four-colour gold floral swags...
This series of three triptych clocks, exceptionally rare, showcase the workshop's mastery of the floral swag and hand-chased laurel leaf borders.
Perfect in their proportions, the dual function of timepiece and photograph frame is particularly pleasing.
Image courtesy Christie's London.