Sunday, October 6, 2013

Object of the Day, Museum Edition: Queen Mary’s Fabergé Cat, 1907



Cat of Jasper and Olivine with Gold
Michael Perchin, 1907
Purchased by King George V for Queen Mary
Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection 
All related images courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II



This figure of a cat is carved from gray Kalgan jasper with olivine eyes set in yellow gold, It is the work of Michael Perchin for Fabergé. While we’d assume that his was part of the 1907 Sandringham Commission which was placed with Fabergé by King Edward VII as a gift for his long-suffering wife, Queen Alexandra, there’s evidence that this piece was made later.

Queen Mary, Consort of King George V, followed in her mother-in-law’s footsteps and collected Fabergé animals as well. It’s believed that this piece was purchased by George V for Queen Mary in 1929. Once it was mixed in with Queen Alexandra’s collection it became difficult to tell one from another.



Crown Copyright
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
From The Royal Collection




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