Gifts of Grandeur: The Fabergé Border Terrier, 1907-1908

Border Terrier of Agate and Rose Diamonds
1907-1908, part of the Sandringham Commission
Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

This Fabergé figure is part of King Edward VII’s Sandringham Commission which ordered the creation of a menagerie of animals made of gold and precious stones for Queen Alexandra. The animals depicted in these figures reflected the many which lived at Sandringham House.

Made between 1907 and 1908, this sculpture of agate is set with rose-cut diamonds, and depicts a Border terrier. Border Terriers were just one of the many breeds kept in the kennels at Sandringham. The sculptor, now unknown, has done an excellent job capturing the playful character and inquisitive nature of the dog.  

Gifts of Grandeur: A Fabergé Duckling, c, 1908

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

Throughout the years here, we've looked at many animals by Fabergé which had been collected by Queens Alexandra, Mary and Elizabeth II.  Among the lot are four models of ducks, two of which we've seen.  However, this one which has recently been added to the Royal archive is my favorite.

The work of Henrik Emanuel Wigström (1862-1923), c. 1908, this expressive duck is modeled in aventurine quartz with eyes of rose diamonds, gold.  He was commissioned by King Edward VII as part of the famed "Sandringham Commission."  The legs of the duckling are crafted of chased red gold.

Crown Copyright
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Mastery of Design: The Fabergé Shire Horse, 1907

Shire Horse of Agate and Diamonds
1907
Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection 
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Made in 1907 by Fabergé as part of the great Sandringham Commission, this horse of carved brown agate is set with rose-cut diamonds for eyes. The shire horse was one of King Edward VII’s prized horses, so he made sure that the artists Fabergé had access to the animal to sketch it.

The Sandringham Commission was tremendous. King Edward VII, in an effort to offer the long-suffering Queen Alexandra something to cheer her up after one of his many infidelities, asked Fabergé to create a virtual barnyard of precious, miniature animals.

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

Mastery of Design: Queen Alexandra's Fabergé Pekingese, c. 1907

Pekingese
Carl Fabergé
Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection
via The Royal Collection Trust
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Another precious animal from Queen Alexandra's farm in miniature, The 1907 Sandringham Commission, this creation of agate and rose-cute diamonds is the work of Carl Fabergé.  

Her Majesty Queen Alexandra was especially fond of smaller breeds of such as the Pekingese, Japanese Chins (known at the time as Japanese spaniels), Tibetan spaniels and papillons. She often traveled with these small dogs who accompanied her from royal residence to royal residence and even went with her abroad.  

The Empress of Japan, in April of 1905, made a gift of four pairs of Pekingese dogs to Queen Alexandra.  However, tragically, only one of the little pups survived the grueling journey from Japan to England.  This Pekingese joined another already in residence with Queen Alexandra and quickly became two of her favorite dogs.  They were called Little Marvel and Little Togo.

This is one or the other of them.  

A 1909 ledger of Fabergé's London branch reveals that a model of a Japanese spaniel called Togo was commissioned however, that's not this one since: 1. the date is wrong, 2. that particular model was in white chalcedony with two rubies for a cost of £29, and 3. and seems to have been made for a French duc.  

I don't know why that last bit was important, but The Royal Collection made rather a  big deal about it, so I figured I'd share it, too.

Gifts of Grandeur: A Fabergé Pig, 1907

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

Part of the Sandringham Commission of 1907, this little piggy didn’t go to market, but rather to the Queen. This was one of many wee animals which King Edward VII commissioned from Fabergé. Many of the miniatures depicted the Royal pets and the animals which lived on the farm at the Sandringham estate. Queen Alexandra collected them with much delight. Of the many precious pigs in the lot, this one’s my favorite. 

Carved from agate, the pig lies on its side, looking at us with rose-cut diamond eyes. 

Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection

Mastery of Design: A Fabergé Hen, c. 1908

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

Click Image to Enlarge

According to The Royal Collection Trust, "the ledgers of Fabergé's London branch reveal that Queen Alexandra purchased three 'chickens', all of chalcedony with gold feet, at a cost of £8 15s each."  Now, even for 1908, that's a poultry--I mean, paltry (couldn't help myself) sum for a Fabergé chicken, even a very small one.  Chances are, these three were very small, in fact.  The two miniature Fabergé hens which remain in the Royal Collection are rather on the large side for miniatures.  Given that, it's most likely that the three listed in the ledgers were purchased as gifts.

Nonetheless, this hen was also made around 1908 by Fabergé.  Instead of being crafted of chalcedony, it's made of agate, with gold feet and wee diamond eyes.  It's very possible this handsome hen was commissioned in 1907 as part of King Edward VII's Sandringham Commission.

Object of the Day, Museum Edition: The Fabergé Shire Horse, 1907

Shire Horse of Agate and Diamonds
1907
Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection 
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Made in 1907 by Fabergé as part of the great Sandringham Commission, this horse of carved brown agate is set with rose-cut diamonds for eyes. The shire horse was one of King Edward VII’s prized horses, so he made sure that the artists Fabergé had access to the animal to sketch it.

The Sandringham Commission was tremendous. King Edward VII, in an effort to offer the long-suffering Queen Alexandra something to cheer her up after one of his many infidelities, asked Fabergé to create a virtual barnyard of precious, miniature animals.

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

Gifts of Grandeur: A Fabergé Duckling, c, 1908

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

Throughout the years here, we've looked at many animals by Fabergé which had been collected by Queens Alexandra, Mary and Elizabeth II.  Among the lot are four models of ducks, two of which we've seen.  However, this one which has recently been added to the Royal archive is my favorite.

The work of Henrik Emanuel Wigström (1862-1923), c. 1908, this expressive duck is modeled in aventurine quartz with eyes of rose diamonds, gold.  He was commissioned by King Edward VII as part of the famed "Sandringham Commission."  The legs of the duckling are crafted of chased red gold.

Crown Copyright
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Gifts of Grandeur: A Fabergé Ducky, c. 1907

Miniature Duck of Chalcedony, Gold and Rubies
Part of the Sandringham Commission, 1907
Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection 
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Made in 1907 by Carl Fabergé, this ducky is not rubber, but rather made of chalcedony, silver-gilt and rubies. He’s part of the great Sandringham Commission wherein King Edward VII bid Fabergé to create a veritable menagerie of precious miniature animals for his long-suffering consort, Queen Alexandra. 

With his body of unusually white chalcedony and his feet of red gold, he’s even cuter with his little cabochon ruby eyes.

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

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.

 

Royal Pets: Sandringham Lucy by Carl Fabergé, 1908



Sandringham Lucy
Carl Fabergé , 1907-1908
Chalcedony, Rubies
Commissioned by King Edward VII
Purchased by King George V while Prince of Wales
The Royal Collection



An avid sportsman, King Edward VII enjoyed long visits to the Royal residence at Sandringham where he spent most of his time hunting and shooting. His favorite companions at Sandringham were the pack of Clumber Spaniels which lived at the estate. Edward VII’s son, the future King George V, also appreciated the Clumber Spaniels, and like his father, had a particular fondness for one in particular—Sandringham Lucy.


I was not very familiar with Clumber Spaniels. The breed originated in France in the eighteenth century and was first bred in England by the Duke of Newcastle at Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire. They can be seen in the 1871 painting, “A Big Shoot at Sandringham” by Thomas Jones Barker.

A Big Shoot at Sandringham
Thomas Jones Barker, 1871
The Royal Collection

In 1907, King Edward VII commissioned Carl Fabergé to create a miniature sculpture of Sandringham Lucy. Fabergé observed the dog and modeled the figure from life. The sculpture of chalcedony with ruby eyes took over a year to create. For reasons now unknown, Edward VII never claimed the sculpture. It was purchased from Fabergé in 1909, By George V, shortly before his father’s death.  He was probably urged to do so by Mary of Teck, his wife, who--among other things--amassed a huge collection of jeweled and enameled animal figurines by Fabergé.

Mastery of Design: The Fabergé Border Terrier, 1907-1908

Border Terrier of Agate and Rose Diamonds
1907-1908, part of the Sandringham Commission
Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

This Fabergé figure is part of King Edward VII’s Sandringham Commission which ordered the creation of a menagerie of animals made of gold and precious stones for Queen Alexandra. The animals depicted in these figures reflected the many which lived at Sandringham House.

Made between 1907 and 1908, this sculpture of agate is set with rose-cut diamonds, and depicts a Border terrier. Border Terriers were just one of the many breeds kept in the kennels at Sandringham. The sculptor, now unknown, has done an excellent job capturing the playful character and inquisitive nature of the dog.  

Gifts of Grandeur: A Fabergé Pig, 1907

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

Part of the Sandringham Commission of 1907, this little piggy didn’t go to market, but rather to the Queen. This was one of many wee animals which King Edward VII commissioned from Fabergé. Many of the miniatures depicted the Royal pets and the animals which lived on the farm at the Sandringham estate. Queen Alexandra collected them with much delight. Of the many precious pigs in the lot, this one’s my favorite. 

Carved from agate, the pig lies on its side, looking at us with rose-cut diamond eyes. 

Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection

Mastery of Design: The Fabergé Dove, 1908

Dove
Part of the Sandringham Commission, 1907-1908
Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Another from the Royal Collection’s Fabergé menagerie, this dove is crafted of heavenly chalcedony. It was part of the great 1907 Sandringham Commission ordered by King Edward VII to keep Queen Alexandra properly amused. The fantail dove sits upon chased gold legs and looks at us peacefully through rose-cut diamond eyes.

Gifts of Grandeur: A Fabergé Ducky, c. 1907

Miniature Duck of Chalcedony, Gold and Rubies
Part of the Sandringham Commission, 1907
Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Made in 1907 by Carl Fabergé, this ducky is not rubber, but rather made of chalcedony, silver-gilt and rubies. He’s part of the great Sandringham Commission wherein King Edward VII bid Fabergé to create a veritable menagerie of precious miniature animals for his long-suffering consort, Queen Alexandra. 

With his body of unusually white chalcedony and his feet of red gold, he’s even cuter with his little cabochon ruby eyes.

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

Mastery of Design: The Fabergé Border Terrier, 1907-1908

Border Terrier of Agate and Rose Diamonds
1907-1908, part of the Sandringham Commission
Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

This Fabergé figure is part of King Edward VII’s Sandringham Commission which ordered the creation of a menagerie of animals made of gold and precious stones for Queen Alexandra. The animals depicted in these figures reflected the many which lived at Sandringham House.

Made between 1907 and 1908, this sculpture of agate is set with rose-cut diamonds, and depicts a Border terrier. Border Terriers were just one of the many breeds kept in the kennels at Sandringham. The sculptor, now unknown, has done an excellent job capturing the playful character and inquisitive nature of the dog.  

Mastery of Design: The Fabergé Guinea Pig, 1907

Guinea Pig
Agate and Rubies
Made as part of the Sandringham Commission, 1907
Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Here’s another of Queen Alexandra’s little Fabergé animals. Another creation from the Sandringham Commission of 1907, this critter was among the many that King Edward VII had made for his consort. 

Made of agate with eyes of cabochon rubies, this little fella, sitting on his haunches, is a guinea pig. And, he’s very cute. That’s about all there is to say about him. 

Mastery of Design: The Fabergé Shire Horse, 1907

Shire Horse of Agate and Diamonds
1907
Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Made in 1907 by Fabergé as part of the great Sandringham Commission, this horse of carved brown agate is set with rose-cut diamonds for eyes. The shire horse was one of King Edward VII’s prized horses, so he made sure that the artists Fabergé had access to the animal to sketch it.

The Sandringham Commission was tremendous. King Edward VII, in an effort to offer the long-suffering Queen Alexandra something to cheer her up after one of his many infidelities, asked Fabergé to create a virtual barnyard of precious, miniature animals.

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

Mastery of Design: The Fabergé Chick, 1907

Chick
Made for Queen Alexandra
Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Henrik Emanuel Wigström (1862-1923) of Fabergé created this sweet little chalcedony chick in 1907. The eyes are set with cabochon rubies and she stands on chased red gold feet.

This was part of the famed Sandringham Commission wherein King Edward VII asked Fabergé to create a host of little, precious animals to add to Queen Alexandra’s growing menagerie of expensive barnyard friends. 

Though the chick is crafted of chalcedony, it still has a yellow chick-ish color to it. We’re accustomed to seeing chalcedony in its usual milky-blue-gray (almost moonstone-like) color. However, this silica-based mineral sometimes comes in a pale brownish color. This is an excellent example of that unusual hue.

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.