Lot 37: A jewelled gold-mounted nephrite cane handle, maker's mark AT, possibly Alexander Tillander, circa 1890

of shaped T-form mounted with entwined serpents, the heads set with rubies, the collar decorated with fine engine-turning and bead borders, with workmaster's initials

length: 10cm, 4in

Munich, Kunsthalle der Hypo-Kulturstiftung, Fabergé Hofjuwelier de Zaren, 5 December 1986 - 22 February 1987, cat. no. 572
Munich, Kunsthalle der Hypo-Kulturstiftung, Fabergé-Cartier Rivalen am Zarenhof, 28 November 2003 - 12 April 2004, cat. no. 587

Géza von Habsburg, Fabergé Hofjuwelier de Zaren, Munich, 1986, p. 156 and 289
Géza von Habsburg, Fabergé-Cartier Rivalen am Zarenhof, Munich, 2003, p. 322

This shaped T-form cane handle applied with jewelled gold serpents is very similar to another example carved in aventurine quartz, illustrated Géza von Habsburg, Fabergé Hofjuwelier der Zaren, Munich, 1986, cat. no. 588. Like the present handle it is marked with maker's initials AT, but in addition it is contained in its original fitted case stamped: 'K Ghan (Hahn) Nevsky Prospect 26, St. Petersburg'.