International Importers of Quality Gemstones – Specializing in Fine Faceted Colored Gemstones

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All That Glitters
272 Broadway #732
Methuen, MA 01844
Telephone/Answering Service: 978-975-2272

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Faberge Jade, Enamel, Diamond, Silver/Gold Letter Opener

All That Glitters has recently encountered an interesting objet d'art - a signed Faberge Jade, Enamel, Diamond and Vermeil (Gold over Silver) Letter Opener. We are currently looking into the authenticity of this piece, but even if not genuine, it is still an incredible piece of jade, diamonds and work in general. Based on the stamps/marks, It was created between 1906 to 1918, during the reign of the last czar of Russia, Nicholas II. Nicholas and his family were murdered by the Bolsheviks in 1918. Faberge, as well as the maker of this piece (Alexander Tillander?), fled Russia to Finland right after the revolution of 1917.

The jade has a nice rich color. The enamel is a cherry to cranberry color. Rose Cut Diamonds are scattered throughout this jewel (approximately 3 are missing - one can see these in the photos below.) They can easily be replaced, as there are places where one can find rose cut diamonds for antique jewelry. This piece measures just over 10 inches in length. The piece has not been cleaned what so ever by us.

Currently, the subject of this piece has not been positively identified. The unique mustache and sideburns, called lip curtains, could be a clue and we continue to seek out his identity.

===> We have contacted a number of authorities look at both photos and one auction house has seen it in person. The decision on whether it is genuine or a very fine reproduction is almost a toss up. Many think that one section is right on for Faberge, while another person or group disagrees, but thinks another part looks like his work. There is so much Faberge stamped items out there, that most are not the genuine item and the auction houses have gotten into trouble in the past, so rather than possibly have issues, unless the piece has incredible provenance, they are not interested. Once Bitten, Twice Shy - as they say. Of course, everyone seeing this thinks that it is a wonderful piece regardless. If it were not signed, everyone would be interested in the piece! We feel that the best way to represent this beauty, is as we have - we have identified that there are mine cut Diamonds, Vermeil (Gold over Silver), the blade is very fine Neprhite Jade, it is enamel, and it is stamped as shown, and the stamps have all been identified - whether genuine or not. If a genuine Faberge Jade/Diamond/Vermeil Letter Opener, with custom wood/velvet case, one could expect a price of about $15,000 or more. In this case, we are asking a price FAR below that - about 72% less than that price! Anyone seeking a fine quality Object D'art would be proud to have such an item in their collection...

The hallmarks show the following:
Faberge Mark/Stamp
Makers Mark: AT, (Alexander Tillander, Faberge Workmaster)
Purity Mark: 84 - 87.5% Silver
City Mark: St. Petersburg
(See images and more information below pertaining to information readily available on the internet)

For larger photos of this item, please email.

Research:

We contacted a business in Russia that sells Imperial/Romanov and other important Russian Jewelry and Objets D'Art. They translated the marks to indicate, Faberge, St. Petersburg after 1906. Using online resources, we were able to determine the following:

Hallmarks (located on the bust):
AT is the makers mark: Alexander Tillander, Faberge Workmaster, 1855-1918
===> Another workmaster was Alfred Thielemann who produced smaller jewelry pieces than Tillander. Perhaps the AT is Alfred Thielemann. He seems to have done smaller pieces of jewelry, medals, etc.
This is followed by a known stamp/mark of Faberge
The alpha character indicates St. Petersburg, the woman facing right indicates manufacture between 1906 and 1926
The 84 indicates the purity of the silver, 87.5%

Case: The case stamp/logo is the Imperial Crest (Russia), and has the name/mark of Faberge, with offices in St. Petersburg, Moscow and Odessa. (Information on line indicates that Faberge had not only these offices, but Kiev and London also - not sure when these offices were in business with respect to the date of this item.)

Identity of the Bust?:
Diligent work on the part of All That Glitters, has discovered some possibilities as to the person depicted on the letter opener. In the book entitled "Faberge, Imperial Craftsman and His World" by Dr. Geza Von Habsburg, a list of clients of Alexander Tillander is mentioned - "Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich, brother of Alexander III, was by contrast an extremely loyal customer, along with his entire family...The Vladimirovich family likewise commissioned presentation objects and jewelry decorated with their personal diamond-set ciphers." The Grand Duke was also the uncle to Nicholas II. Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich did indeed have lip curtains in a portait that was painted in 1903, as well as a receding hairline - both characteristics of the bust on the letter opener. Below is a picture of the Grand Duke as depicted in the painting from 1903, as well as a photo that was found on line:


Portrait of infantry general, adjutant general, member of State Council, Commander in Chief of the guard troops of the military conscription of St. Petersburg and president of the Imperial Academy of the Arts Grand Prince Vladimir Aleksandrovich Romanov. Study for the picture Formal Session of the State Council. Oil on canvas. 111 × 90 cm. National Art Museum of Georgia, Tbilisi.

Rose Cut Diamonds:
The rose cut stones have been tested with a Thermal Conductivity/Moisanite Detector - Positive for Diamonds

Identification of the Blade:
The material of the blade has been identified as Jade, variety Nephrite, using the Refractive Index. In books on Faberge, it was noted that most all items that were Jade, were the variety Nephrite vs. Jadeite. Note that the blade is also beveled on all edges. It is far easier not to bevel the blade, as the blade could be destroyed in the process. For a faux piece of Faberge, one would not expect this added detail - not to mention, why bother using real rose cut diamonds and fine Jade if a piece is meant to deceive - it just has to look good.

Alexander Tillander - Faberge Workmaster:

Finland used to be part of Russia, and the Russian influence is obvious in much of Helsinki's architecture. The Finns in many ways shared the Russian's design sense -- which includes jewelry design.

At the age of 11, Alexander Tillander of Finalnd set off for St. Petersburg as apprentice under the finest goldsmiths of the time -- Peter Carl Faberge'. In 1860, upon becoming a master of his craft, he established his own jewellery shop and became a renowned goldsmith in St. Petersburg. Alexander Tillander was the founding father of a continuing family legacy in handcrafting fine jewellery that lives on in Helsinki, today.

By 1860, there were over three-hundred goldsmiths' workshops employing over three thousand people, and among these craftsmen, was the young twenty-three year old Alexander Tillander. His style is well remembered for naturalism and themes of Russian nostalgia, which he often expressed with vivid colors.

His work was much appreciated by the aristocracy, including the Count Tulinoff, and gained additional strength from his collaboration with Fabergé. By the turn of the century, his son assumed control of the relatively large company that by 1909 included the patronage of the Czar. In 1917 Finland declared independence and with the ensuing turmoil of the period, Alexander Tillander returned to his ancestral homeland.

Fabergé workmaster

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A Fabergé workmaster is a manufacturer who produces jewelry for the Fabergé Co. These individuals, many of whom had headed their own firms before being merged into the Fabergé establishment, presided over teams of craftsmen and were responsible for executing pieces conceived by the company's designers.

The House of Fabergé was staffed with some of the finest goldsmiths and jewelers available. Interestingly enough, Peter Carl Fabergé did not actually create any of the famous eggs that bear his name. The business was divided into several small workshops, each with its own specialty. In addition to the fabulous easter eggs, the workshop also produced table silver, jewelry, European-style trinkets, and Russian-style carvings. The two master jewelers most responsible for the Fabergé eggs were Michael Perchin and Finnish-born Henrik Wigström. Born in 1860, Perchin became the leading workmaster in the House of Fabergé in 1886 and supervised production of the eggs until 1903. Those eggs he was responsible for have his MP (MP- Michael Perchin) markings. All signed eggs made after 1903 bear Henrik Wigstrom's HW mark. Of course, not all eggs were stamped, so other goldsmiths may have supervised production of some of the eggs. Altogether there have been more than 40 workmasters.

Tillander, A., was a family business owned and managed by Alexander Tillander, father and son.

Thielemann, Alfred (?-between 1890-1910), from Germany. active jeweller for Fabergé from 1880. Produced small trinkets and jewellery. His work was continued by his Son Karl Rudolph Thielemann. The master mark was 'AT'.

This is a photo of a real case and letter opener by Faberge. Note the case, the logo AND the clasp. The clasp appears on the bottom of the case, and closes up. Personally, it makes more sense to have the moveable clasp on the top hinge of the box so it closes down onto the bottom half.; this would be the norm of how things are typically done, but Faberge boxes seen in books do indeed show both this odd position of the clasp, as well as a similar style clasp . Both of these facts are present in the jade letter opener described above.