the large oval cabochon amethyst, held in a rose diamond sling, its weight drawing it downwards, hung from a tapering diamond set loop suspending a trefoil of old brilliant cut diamonds, platinum mounted on gold
Workmaster: August Hollming,
St. Petersburg, 1908-1913,
inventory number: 97532
5.1 cm in length including loop
Contained in its original silk and velvet lined fitted hollywood case, the lid silk stamped ‘Fabergé, St. Petersburg, Moscow, London’ in Cyrillic beneath the Imperial Warrant.
Provenance
Her Royal Highness Princess Victoria, acquired from Fabergé in London, 20th November 1913 for £50
The Fabergé ledger entry reading:
Victoria, H.R.H. Pcess, Pendant 1 amethyst cab, 3 brills + roses in plat
Given by Princess Victoria to a Lady -in-waiting to Queen Alexandra, then by family descent.
Princess Victoria was a patron of Fabergé in London from 1908 to 1913; nearly all her acquisitions were made in the month of November and, presumably, as gifts for others. The Princess was a close companion of Queen Alexandra and lived with her until her death in 1925. She shared her mother’s taste for lapidary studies and bought two owls, a mouse and a pig from Fabergé. Her most costly purchase, by far, was this amethyst and diamond pendant bought for £50. The majority of her remaining purchases were of cigarette cases, matchboxes and tiepins, costing between £2 and £9.
Exhibited:
Fabergé in London: Romance to Revolution,
Victoria & Albert Museum, London 2021-2022.
The Siberian amethyst is faceted to the back, creating a play of light, in tones of purple, within the stone. The design is reminiscent of those of lost Fabergé jewels represented in the Holmstrom design albums. Where the weight of the principal stones are being drawn downwards by gravity in diamond set slings.
Princess of Victoria of Wales