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Lot Essay
This rare and impressive nephrite mantel clock by Fabergé, created in the Louis XVI style, exemplifies the revival of 18th-century French court design. Neoclassicism was especially favored at the Imperial court and experienced a resurgence in the early 20th century, as the Romanov family approached the tercentenary of their reign.
The present clock, preserved in its original wooden case and complete with its winding key, was crafted by Henrik Wigström, one of Fabergé’s head workmasters who oversaw the most complex and technically demanding aspects of the firm’s production.
Fabergé’s workmasters were celebrated for incorporating locally sourced hardstones from regions such as Siberia, the Urals, and the Caucasus. Nephrite, used in this clock, was among the firm's most favored materials, prized for its durability and rich appearance. Once cut, these stones were given to Fabergé’s workmasters, who enhanced them with silver or enamel mounts in complementary tones.
The present clock, preserved in its original wooden case and complete with its winding key, was crafted by Henrik Wigström, one of Fabergé’s head workmasters who oversaw the most complex and technically demanding aspects of the firm’s production.
Fabergé’s workmasters were celebrated for incorporating locally sourced hardstones from regions such as Siberia, the Urals, and the Caucasus. Nephrite, used in this clock, was among the firm's most favored materials, prized for its durability and rich appearance. Once cut, these stones were given to Fabergé’s workmasters, who enhanced them with silver or enamel mounts in complementary tones.