Vicmart

Highly unusual and important turn of the century Imperial Russian presentation brooch in the form of a gold diamond and emerald crown crafted by Faberge’s workmaster Victor Aarne. Much later, similar Imperial jewelry and decorations had been presented to guests, Royalties and officials during the 1913 Romanov / Romanoff dynasty tercentenary celebrations, but the present brooch is from the 1896-1904 period. Most likely the piece was made by a Palace order and was presented by a member of the Emperor’s Nicholas II family during an earlier occasion like the Emperor’s Ascension to the throne. The present Imperial Russia presentation brooch is in the form of a Royal crown paved with old European brilliant cut diamonds and tow large cabochon emeralds of exceptional deep green color. Each cabochon emerald measures approximately 8mm in diameter and nearly 5mm deep, both weighing nearly 2.2 carats each or 4.4 carats in total. There are about 60 brilliant cut diamonds set into 14 karat gold and silver with total weight of over 2 carats. The size of the brooch is 27mm x 22mm and 8mm high and has a net weight of 8 grams. The brooch is marked with Imperial Russian St. Petersburg gold standard ‘56’ hallmark, as well as with Faberge’s workmaster initials ‘BA’ in Cyrillic for Victor Aarne. Both marks are situated at the back lower part of the crown rim and are slightly worn out and faint, but perfectly visible with loupe magnification. Not least important is the perfectly preserved Faberge firm scratched inventory number that reads ‘9668’ or ‘39668’ in case the first symbol is a digit’3’ and not another symbol. One of the emeralds has tiny surface scratches and a nearly invisible ding, but these are not visible to the naked eye. The hook that fastenes the pin at the back of the brooch is slightly pressed to one side and this is the reason it looks like being placed at an angle. This could be easily restored by a jeweler. The pin itself also shows signs of being replaced in the past, visible because of a slightly different color of gold compared to the rest of the brooch. Otherwise, the whole piece is in an outstanding condition and with original gold patina. LIFETIME GUARANTEED AUTHENTIC PIECE! Such a piece made by Faberge’s workmaster Victor Aarne is indeed highly unusual as Viktor Aarne’s workshop was specialized in guilloche enamel frames and other objects, but not really with jewelry. On the other hand Viktor Aarne had also made badges and decorations like the badge for the Vladimir Military School in 1913 (St. Petersburg) / (Ref. Dargate Auction Galleries March 1999 Sale, Lot #3010). Johan Viktor Aarne (1863-1933) studied jewelry / jewellery making with Erik Johan Holstein in Tampere. Since 1888 until 1902 he worked in his own workshop for the Faberge firm in St. Petersburg and had over 20 other masters working for him. He transferred his workshop to another Faberge workmaster Karl Armfeldt in 1904 and moved to Vyborg. Provenance: directly from descendants of one of the Aide-de-Camp Generals of the Bulgarian King during that era. Possibly presented to the General’s wife during one of the official delegations of the monarch. Absolutely scarce and important Faberge antique jewelry / jewellery collector piece as crafted by one of the most famous Faberge goldsmiths and masters. A rare and exceptional historical piece and one of the rare Imperial Russian Romanov / Romanoff Dynasty jewels and presentation brooches / decorations.