The Rothschild Clock Egg
The above image from Wartski’s archive of original Fabergé photographs is of Michael Evamplevitch Perchin’s workshop
on Bolshaya Morskaya Street, St. Petersburg.
The clock named by Christies as the 'Rothschild Egg' is on the work bench in the foreground, diligently tended by two bearded goldsmiths.
The clock appears to have not been enamelled or mounted with its gold motifs at this stage. The enamelled cockerel surprise has been
added and is visible above the egg. This egg was previously identified as the Kelch Chanticleer Egg of 1904. The silhouettes of
the Chanticleer and egg shaped Rothschild clock are near identical, however they do differ slightly. Immediately above the pedestal of the
Rothschild clock egg are two stepped floral garlands. The Chanticleer egg has only a single garland and the egg in the photograph has
the stepped mounts of the Rothschild clock egg. In the absence of a third egg with identical garlands, the clock in the picture can only be
the 'Rothschild Egg' clock. This dates the photograph to circa 1902, when the workshop was headed by Perchin. He is the
proprietorial looking bearded gentleman on the left of the image; his assistant and successor Henrik Wigström
stands centre wearing a dark suit.
The photograph is a remarkable visual record of Fabergé’s foremost craftsmen at work. It shows Fabergé greatest Chief
Workmasters; Perchin and Wigström looking on as the Rothschild Egg is made.
The Rothschilds were prominent customers of Fabergé. The family’s patronage of the firm’s London branch rivalled that
of the Royal family. For a discussion of the Rothschilds relationship with Fabergé, see:
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