A gem set gold mounted nephrite box
by Carl Fabergé,

of cylindrical form, with diamond set hinge the clasp similarly set in
the form of a fleur-de-lis and centred by a cabochon blue sapphire.

Signed Fabergé in Cyrillic

St. Petersburg, circa 1900
inventory number: 21346.

Diameter: 3.9 cm.
Height: 2.1 cm.

Fabergé used six different types of nephrite of different shades and appearance. All were taken from boulders
found beside the river Onot in the Irtusk region of Siberia. Birbaum when discussing the firm’s use of nephrite
recalls the finest dark green nephrite, as used in this box, ‘when cut into thin sheets becomes translucent and
acquires a wonderful dense green colour’.

Provenance:

Wartski, London.
The Joan and Melissa Rivers Collection.

Exhibited:

Fabergé in America,
1996-97, no 341.