A Russian Imperial Presentation Translucent "Merlot" Guilloché Enameled Gilt Silver-Mounted Burlwood Frame Fabergé, Workmaster Feodor Afanasiev, St. Petersburg, 1899-1908, with scratched inventory number 2281 15-3/4 x 11-1/4 inches (40.0 x 28.6 cm) PROVENANCE: Acquired from Fabergé by the Imperial Cabinet, September 16, 1909, for 400 rubles Christie's London, Russian Art, June 11, 2008, lot 443; Acquired from the above by the present owner. The offered lot was acquired from Fabergé by the Imperial Cabinet for presentation purposes in September of 1909, together with a group of other frames all at the same price point. It is particularly interesting to note the description "Frame, white wood with Merlot-colored enamel" (ramka, bel[aya]. dereva s' emal'yu merlov.[aya] tsveta). It is unusual for Fabergé invoices to indicate the name of a specific color rather than generic indications such as ‘red', ‘blue', or ‘green'. Fabergé is known to have more than 288 stock colors, all indicated by numbers. (cf. Fabergé, Kohler & Skurlov, Fabergé: A Comprehensive Reference Book, Slatkine: Geneva, 2012, pp. 366). Heritage Auctions is grateful to Valentin Skurlov and Dmitry Krivoshey for their assistance in the research of this lot. Masterpieces of Russian Enamel from an Important American Collection HID12401132022 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved