Lot 179: A FABERGÉ IMPERIAL BOWENITE, GILDED SILVER, ENAMEL AND GEM-SET BELL PUSH, WORKMASTER JOHAN VICTOR AARNE, ST. PETERSBURG, 1897

A FABERGÉ IMPERIAL BOWENITE, GILDED SILVER, ENAMEL AND GEM-SET BELL PUSH, WORKMASTER JOHAN VICTOR AARNE, ST. PETERSBURG, 1897 circular, the domed body in a cage of leafy, gilded bands, the collar of the cabochon garnet push piece enameled in a translucent yellow over a wavy guilloché ground, set on four ball feet with workmaster's initials, Fabergé in Cyrillic, and 88 standard. Also with scratched inventory number 55727 diamter 2 7/8 in. 7.3 cm Workmaster Johan Victor Aarne, St. Petersburg

Archival records indicate that the 100 ruble cost of this elegant bell push was split between the accounts of two of Emperor Nicholas II's younger siblings, Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna and Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich. See the invoices reproduced in figures 1 and 2. We are grateful to Svetlana Chestnykh for assistance in cataloging this lot.

Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna (1882-1960) and Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich (1878-1918)