April 2008
Second Anniversary Edition Newsletter
The World’s Biggest Easter Egg Hunt
Article by Mary Miers, Country Life, March 20, 2008, 60-61, includes exciting news about the discovery of a 1949 exhibition photograph of the missing 1889 Nécessaire Egg. Kieran McCarthy of the leading British Fabergé dealer was able to match the photograph in the files of Wartski of London to the original archival description. Fabergé scholars for years have attempted to piece together the history of this egg – now they are eager to find the egg, 3 inches long, it opens to reveal 13 tiny items of ladies toiletry.
The December 2007 issue of this Newsletter contained a discussion of both the missing 1888 Cherub with Chariot Egg and the 1889 Nécessaire Egg. With the above discovery of the Wartski photograph, another piece has been added to the 1889 egg puzzle. After his extensive investigations McCarthy concurs that the reflection of the cherub egg as seen on the extant von Dervis exhibition photograph is correct, but not the image of the 1889 egg.
Spring Auction Highlights
Sotheby’s New York on April 16, 2008
Fabergé Carved Smoky Quartz Nautilus Shell Cup
(Courtesy Sotheby’s)
Christie’s New York on April 18, 2008
Carved Nephrite Model of an Elephant, 7 1/2 in. tall
(Courtesy Christie’s)
Bolin Jewellery Auction, Stockholm, on April 20, 2008 (Courtesy of Willand Ringborg)
Heritage Auction Galleries, Dallas, Texas on April 24, 2008
New Trend - Online Collection Databases
Museum collections are beginning to add their collection records, sometimes with provenances, to the Internet. Previously mentioned was the e-gallery of the Royal Collection of Queen Elizabeth II. In some cases a caveat states the records were created from historic documentation and do not necessarily reflect “current knowledge about the object”.
New Databases:
New on the Fabergé Research Site
Readers of this newsletter are invited to share information about Fabergé happenings worldwide.
Christel Ludewig McCanless
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