A gold mounted nephrite tray by Carl Fabergé,

the oval gold tray cut from a single piece of Siberian jade, on a reeded yellow gold mount
and stood on four floral clawed feet.

Chief Workmaster: Henrik Wigström, St. Petersburg, 1908-1917,
inventory number 23013

13.5 cm wide by 3.4 cm high..

Provenance:

Purchased from Fabergé's English branch at 173 New Bond Street, London
on 24th March 1914 by Mrs John Gordon for £32.

Fabergé used six different types of nephrite, each exhibiting a different shade or texture. All were taken
from boulders found in the majestic scenery beside the river Onot in Siberia. Franz Birbaum, Fabergé's
workshops manager when discussing the firm’s use of nephrite recalls the finest dark green
nephrite when cut thinly ' becomes translucent and acquires a wonderful dense green colour’