Lot 178: - A rare and magnificent Fabergé silver-mounted nephrite presentation bowl, workmaster: Julius Rappoport, St Petersburg, circa 1890

circular, applied with richly cast and chased ribbon-tied oak and laurel branches in high relief, the sides inlaid with Cyrillic initials PTB and XXV with the date: XVII au(gust) MDCCCXC y(ear ) in Cyrillic, raised on three lion's paw feet below scrolling acanthus, marked Fabergé with workmaster's initials, 88 standard

height: 18cm, 7in; width: 23.5cm, 9¼in

Christie's New York, 19 October 2001, lot 124

PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE COLLECTION, USA
This bowl comprises a remarkably large specimen of high-quality nephrite, one of the largest known in Fabergé's production, which, upon its discovery and acquisition by the firm, would have been set aside for a very special commission. The technical achievement of carving, turning and hand-finishing the walls to a gauge of just 4mm in perfect uniformity is extraordinary, the challenge made even greater with the careful inlay of the silver initials and commemorative date into the stone. The effect, however, is not at all delicate but sturdy, handsome and imposing. Stylistically, the present lot relates most closely to the marble presentation bowl of similar size and with nearly identical mounts; see Sotheby's Geneva, 12 November 1980, lot 448. Two other nephrite examples are illustrated in Bainbridge, Peter Carl Faberge: His Life and Work, London, 1949, plates 12, 39 and 92, the most interesting of which is from the collection of King Rama VI of Siam. Throughout his reign it was kept in the Royal Palace and was used as a container of sacred water at the King's birthday celebrations.