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LEAF-SHAPED BOX

Creator(s): Fabergé (Firm)

On view in: Icon Room


About this object

Regardless of an object's style, an understated use of gemstones was central to Fabergé's concept of a beautiful object. He limited their use to accents on a clasp, a cipher, or some other detail. If the gems did not play an artistic role in an object's overall design, he was not interested in them. He noted that pieces by Tiffany and Cartier might be more expensive, but he added, ''I am less interested in an expensive object, if its high cost is only because many diamonds and pearls have been planted on it.'' This bloodstone box in the shape of a leaf, made in Fabergé's Moscow workshops, beautifully demonstrates this philosophy. The only decoration applied to this elegantly formed box are delicate gold leaves and minute diamond berries.

Bloodstone box is carved in shape of ivy leaf (Hedera Spirea). Border where the two pieces of the box are joined has a band of chased laurel leaves in green gold against yellow. Over sides and cover are sprays of leaves in green gold with flowers in tiny diamonds.

Object name:
LEAF-SHAPED BOX
Made from:
Bloodstone -- gold -- diamonds
Made in:
Moscow, Russia
Date made:
1899-1908
Size:
H. 1 3/8 × W. 2 3/8 × D. 2 5/8 in. (3.5 × 6 × 6.7 cm)

Detailed information for this item

Catalog number:
11.219.1-2
Class:
GOLD
Signature marks:
MARK KF in Cyrillic, 56, kokoshnik facing left IL (Moscow assayer Ivan Lebedkin) [under lid] MARK KF in Cyrillic, kokoshnik facing left [rim] MARK KF in Cyrillic, 56, kokoshnik facing left IL [top of lid on leaf] SCRATCHED NUMBER 17114 [under lid]
Credit line:
Bequest of Marjorie Merriweather Post, 1973