Ahead of London's Russia Week (beginning November 24), two substantial works by Russia's most celebrated goldsmith appeared in the UK regions in as many weeks and both stormed past very modest pre-sale estimates to sell for bullish sums.
Dreweatts sale of silver, jewellery and objects of vertu at their Donnington Priory rooms on November 12 included a Fabergé enamel desk clock by workmaster Michael Perchin. Against a published estimate of £7000-10,000, it took £160,000 (plus 20% buyer's premium).
The clock had been consigned by a member of a local family - a descendant of the Hon. Daisy Fellowes of Donnington Grove - who had emigrated to Canada some years ago and as such the hammer price was subject to five per cent import duty. Accordingly, the final bill for the winning bidder - a private collector on the telephone - was close to £192,000.
Dreweatts had the clock inspected by two independent authorities who found it to be in good condition with wear commensurate with age and no evidence of re-enamelling to the purple and white guilloché enamel.
A fortnight earlier Woolley & Wallis sold a 5 1/4in (13.5cm) Fabergé parcel-gilt and pale-green enamel pendant frame set with an icon miniature at their sale in Salisbury on October 29.
It sailed past its token guide of £1500-2500 to bring £48,000 (plus 19.5 per cent buyer's premium). The miniature depicting Saint Nadezhda (Hope) had suffered some paint loss.
By Roland Arkell
