Wednesday, August 7, 2013

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

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