Thursday, June 14, 2012

Gifts of Grandeur: The Fabergé Cockatoo on a Hanging Perch, 1900

Cockatoo on a Hanging Perch
Michael Perchin
Commissioned by King Edward VII, 1900
Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II



Mikhail Evlampievich Perkhin (1860-1903) (also known as Michael Perchin) created this figure of agate, olivines, gold and enamel in 1900 for Fabergé. King Edward VII commissioned the figure for his consort, Queen “I can’t hear you, Bertie” Alexandra.

Alexandra passed the time collecting these Fabergé figures while Edward VII collected music hall girls and his friends’ wives. By her death in 1925, she had amassed a veritable menagerie of little jeweled animals, a collection which was further grown by her daughter-in-law, Queen Mary.

This cockatoo of agate with olivine eyes and gold claws is exceptionally fine and an excellent representation of Perchin’s work. The bird sits upon a silver gilt hanging perch and stand with a pole of green enamel.




1 comment:

Doni said...

Ok in this I can see the essence of Faberge'. Love the green.