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"Faberge Royal Craftsman," Ethel Walton Everett, New York Sun
Transcription: THE NEW YORK SUN, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1937 ANTIQUES Faberge Royal Craftsman Examples of His Work Include Silver Service and Translucent Enamels. By ETHEL WALTON EVERETT. A sumptuous silver tea and coffee service by Carl G. Faberge, the Russian Court jeweler, made for the Grand Duchess Alexandra Josephovna, has just been put on exhibition in the Schaffer Collection of Russia Imperial Art Treasures. Commissioned as a silver-wedding anniversary present, it bears the initials “A. J.” of the Grand Duchess and engraved facsimile auto graphs, “Olga,” “Vera” and “Dmitri.” In addition to samovar, drip bowl and rounded, rectangular tray; coffee and tea urns, sugar container and creamer, with large oval tray; matching items include one dozen spoons, tea strainer, lemon fork, tea scoop and sugar tongs. Every piece is of extreme grace and beauty, difficult to achieve with the classical design used. The collection has a comprehensive showing of Faberge’s translucent enamels, with examples of his delicate tones of palest almond green, claire de lune, lustrous “pearly white,” lavender, and a pale, bright color exactly like the polished birchwood for which Russia is famous. The enamel is combined with chased and chiseled gold and silver, in photograph frames of various shapes, cigarette boxes, candlesticks and other pieces, many set with jewels, and the majority having his signature. One of the last named is a cigarette box of heavy polished gold, with translucent enamel of pale peacock blue, having narrow gold borders, ornamented with a delicate leaf and flower design in gem-like emerald green and ruby red. Deep royal blue and pale salmon pink are used for other cigarette boxes. Among the larger enameled pieces are a pair of candlesticks claire de lune, on silver, with gold tops, bases and feet, richly chiseled, and with delicate gold swags, set with jewels. The same claire de lune enamel and harmonizing swag design appear on the handle of gold seal with the crown and monogram “TH” of the Grand Duchess Tatiana, with six diamonds set in the green and yellow gold decoration. The seals are varied in character. Bearing the crown and “AH” monograms of the Czar, is one with handle of plain, polished ivory, with a very simple design in the gold band which holds the dark gray agate seal. Another is an attractive little cylinder of pure white polished crystal, with engraved crown and “NB” initials. The ornamentation is like a guard ring, a band of small, square rubies, between two bands of tiny diamonds. [Image of candlestick with enamel and gold mountings. Caption:] One of a pair of candlesticks by Faberge of pale blue translucent enamel on silver with gold mountings shown by Schaffer Galleries. [Image of silver samovar]