Lot 188: A Silver and Bowenite Table Lamp in the Form of a Dragon

A Silver and Bowenite Table Lamp in the Form of a Dragon
Marked Fabergé with the Imperial warrant, with the workmaster's mark of Julius Rappoport, St Petersburg, 1899-1904
The circular bowenite base on three bun feet, rising to silver mounts elaborately cast as an inverted coiled dragon with outstretched claws and open mouth, supporting a polychrome enamelled ostrich egg depicting a dragon, marked on dragon's foot and under rim
17 5/8 in. (44.8 cm.) to rim

The Nobel family.
Then by descent through the family.

PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN
Prospective purchasers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to coral, ivory and tortoiseshell. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country.
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium, which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.
Julius Rappoport
Julius Rappoport was Fabergé's foremost silversmith, specializing in large silver objects, silver-mounted objects, and silver models of animals. The latter included various sculptural works, from monkeys to elephants, which typically served a specific function, such as a lighter, bell-push, or lamp.

The present lamp is consistent with works by Rappoport depicting exotic animal subjects, although several more restrained vase-form silver and bowenite table lamps are known (Pavlovsk Palace, Inv. Ts Kh-714-VII and Inv. Ts Kh-715-VII; Christie's, New York, 20 October 1999, lot 76 and 20 April 2000, lot 66). One notable example is a large silver and bowenite table lamp in the form of a stylized dolphin, purchased jointly in 1895 by Emperor Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna (Christie's, New York, April 20, 2000, lot 85). Further examples include a silver and bowenite Romanov Griffin (the State Hermitage, Inv. ERO-5395) and silver and bowenite Romanov Griffin clocks (see G. von Hapsburg, Fabergé: The Imperial Craftsman and His World, London, 2000, p. 116, No. 175, illustrated).

The choice of the exotic subject of a dragon reflects the strong influence of Japonisme on Fabergé's production. While Peter Carl Fabergé's large collection of Netsuke was well-known and served as an inspiration for the firm's hardstone animal carvings, animal subjects produced in Japan during the Meiji period (1868-1912) clearly were just as much of an inspiration. The design of the present lot is a direct copy of dragons found in Meiji bronzes, which were widely exported during the latter half of the nineteenth century and represented at the world's fairs and expositions. Fabergé's exposure to Meiji bronzes is further evidenced by a silver elephant produced by the First Silver Artel (to which Rappoport left his production molds, including those for animals), reputedly a direct copy of a Meiji bronze. See G. von Hapsburg, op. cit., London, 2000, p. 118, No. 183, illustrated.

A nearly identical lamp from the Nobel family was sold Stockholms Auctionsverk, 26 November 2009, lot 2464.

The Nobels
The Nobels were originally from Nobbelöw in the south of Sweden. Immanuel Nobel (1801-1872) moved in 1838 to St Petersburg, where he started a munitions manufacturing business that, after considerable success, eventually went bankrupt. Immanuel returned to Sweden in 1859, while his eldest sons, Robert (1829-1896), Ludvig (1831-1888) and Alfred (1833-1896) remained in Russia. In 1879, the three sons founded The Nobel Brothers Petroleum Production Company, which rapidly became the leading kerosene producer in Russia.

Dr. Emanuel Nobel (1859-1932), Ludvig's son who eventually took over leadership of the family business, is considered one of Fabergé's most important clients. According to Francois Birbaum, Fabergé's senior master craftsman from 1893, 'E. Nobel, one of the kings of oil, was so generous in his presents that at times it seemed that this was his chief occupation and delight. Orders were constantly being made for him in the [Fabergé] workshops and from time to time he came to have a look at them. Often, he only decided for whom the present should be when the work was finished.' (Quoted in Birbaum's memoirs, St Petersburg, Fabergé: Imperial Jeweller, London, 1993, p. 454).

Six months before the October Revolution in 1917, which led to the nationalisation of the company in 1920, Nobel Brothers announced record profits. By this time the Nobels owned, controlled or had important interests in companies employing 50,000 workers, producing one-third of the total domestic consumption. In the summer of 1919, Emanuel left Russia with his family to settle in Sweden.