Bidspirit auction | UNIQUE RUSSIAN FABERGÉ BOX WITH

UNIQUE RUSSIAN FABERGÉ BOX WITH PERSIAN PLAQUE AND ARABIAN INSCRIPTION - Mahogany, silver-gilt, turquoise, St. Petersburg, circa 1890, 88 silver hallmark, maker's mark of Antti (Anders) Nevalainen, scratched inventory mark 10508. The turquoise plaque: Qajar, 19th c, 12.5 x 20.5 x 8.5 cm, weight: 836 g The plaque carved with the image of a man holding a sword, with Arabic inscription “I would sacrifice myself for you”. For comparison see Christie's New York 22.6.1981 Lot 290: A belt buckle with a similar turquoise plaque, St. Petersburg, ca. 1880, Fabergé, Master: Erik Kollin. The catalog states the following: 'These very fine turquoise plaques, possibly of Persian origin, were most probably only mounted by Faberge's workshop as aspecial commission. For rare examples where Faberge combines pre-existing works of art with his own creation. Cf. the Max Othmar Neuscheller Collection, Christie's, Geneva, April 26, 1978, lots 289 and 363; Christie's, Geneva, May 12,1981, lot 30.' Provenance: Private collection, Paris, purchased before 1985.