True to form, three of the ten top sums were paid out for Fabergé from the single-owner collection offered at Sotheby's Bond Street sale on May 27. A nephrite casket with enamelled gold mounts marked for Mikhail Perchin was up there amongst the best-sellers at £70,000 as was a nephrite snuff box with rose diamond, enamel and gold mounts with St Petersburg 1908-17 marks which realised £40,000, both selling to the UK trade.
But this 2 1/2in (6cm) grey Kalgan jasper model of a circus elephant, right, with marks for St Petersburg c.1890 left its £8000-12,000 estimate standing when it sold at £65,000 to a private purchaser.
Never forget Fabergé
COMBINE the perennial appeal of the Fabergé name with the current demand for all things Russian and it has been no surprise to see soaring prices for pieces by this famous firm in recent seasons.