A gem set gold mounted nephrite box by Carl Fabergé, St. Petersburg, circa 1900. Photo courtesy Wartsky

of cylindrical form, with diamond set hinge the clasp similarly set in the form of a fleur-de-lis and centred by a cabochon blue sapphire. Signed Fabergé in Cyrillic; inventory number: 21346. Diameter: 3.9 cm. Height: 2.1 cm. Price on application

Fabergé used six different types of nephrite of different shades and appearance. All were taken from boulders found beside the river Onot in the Irtusk region of Siberia. Birbaum when discussing the firm’s use of nephrite recalls the finest dark green nephrite, as used in this box, ‘when cut into thin sheets becomes translucent and acquires a wonderful dense green colour’.

Provenance: Wartski, London. 
The Joan and Melissa Rivers Collection.

Exhibited: Fabergé in America, 1996-97, no 341.

Wartsky. http://www.wartski.com/