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| Paper Knife Michael Perchin Pre-1896 Crown Copyright The Royal Collection Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II |
If anyone liked the work of Fabergé more than Queen Mary, it was her mother-in-law Queen Alexandra (1844-1925, consort of King Edward VII). Between the two of them, they amassed one of the largest collections of Fabergé in the world.
This glorious paper knife is the work of one of Fabergé’s most prolific and talented work-masters Mikhail Evlampievich Perkhin (1860-1903, also known as Michael Perchin). The date of creation is hard to decide, but it resembles Perkhin’s pre-1896 style.
The knife is made of nephrite mounted with gold, quartzite, enamel, rose-cut diamonds and sapphires.
Aside from its beauty and material value, this paper knife had a certain significance to Queen Alexandra as the elephant refers to Denmark. Queen Alexandra was, prior to her marriage to the Prince of Wales, Princess Alexandra of Denmark. The knife most likely appealed to her since the symbols of an elephant and a castle were typically incorporated in the design of all Danish royal insignia. There are several miniature elephants by Fabergé in the Royal Collection thanks to Queen Alexandra. This is one of the few ornamental items which also served a purpose.
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