A gold mounted nephrite tray by Carl Fabergé, Chief Workmaster: Henrik Wigström, St. Petersburg, 1908-1917. Photo courtesy Wartsky

the oval gold tray cut from a single piece of Siberian jade, on a reeded yellow gold mount and stood on four floral clawed feet. 13.5 cm wide by 3.4 cm high. Price on request

Purchased from Fabergé's English branch at 173 New Bond Street, London on 24th March 1914 by Mrs John Gordon for £32.

Fabergé used six different types of nephrite, each exhibiting a different shade or texture. All were taken from boulders found in the majestic scenery beside the river Onot in Siberia. Franz Birbaum, Fabergé's workshops manager when discussing the firm’s use of nephrite recalls the finest dark green nephrite when cut thinly ' becomes translucent and acquires a wonderful dense green colour’.

Illustrated: Golden Years of Fabergé: Drawings and objects from the Wigström Workshop, Tillander-Godenhielm, et al, (New York, 2000), p.114

Wartsky. http://www.wartski.com/