Lot 657: A FABERGÉ IMPERIAL JEWELLED FOUR-COLOUR GOLD AND TWO-COLOUR ENAMEL FRAME, WORKMASTER JOHAN VICTOR AARNE, ST PETERSBURG, 1899-1900

A FABERGÉ IMPERIAL JEWELLED FOUR-COLOUR GOLD AND TWO-COLOUR ENAMEL FRAME, WORKMASTER JOHAN VICTOR AARNE, ST PETERSBURG, 1899-1900 in neoclassical taste, the oval aperture within a border of translucent white enamel over horizontal engine-turned bands, the spandrels of salmon-coloured enamel over radiating waves set with rose-cut diamonds hung with floral garlands, tied ribbon surmount, silver-gilt strut, mother of pearl back, struck with workmaster's initials and Fabergé in Cyrillic, 56 and 88 standards, partial scratched inventory number 3360 , in Wartski case height: 4.4cm, 1 1/4 in.

This object was a joint purchase by Empress Alexandra Feodorovna and, presumably, Emperor Nicholas II, the Empress billed on 25 December 1900 for half the purchase price of 75 roubles.

Sotheby's Geneva, 25th May 1993, lot 426

Sotheby's Geneva 17th May 1995, lot 403

A La Vieille Russie, New York