Czarevitch George Alexandrovitch

[Wartski]

Does anyone know if George Alexandrovitch had an interest in palaeontology? A bizarre question but we have discovered the most amazing Faberge charka that he purchased in 1896 made of Coprolite or fossilised dinosaur droppings and are curious if the subject was an interest of his.

We are also looking for a good photograph of him, any suggestions?

Kieran,
Wartski, London

[Martyn]

Does anyone know if George Alexandrovitch had an interest in palaeontology? A bizarre question but we have discovered the most amazing Faberge charka that he purchased in 1896 made of Coprolite or fossilised dinosaur droppings and are curious if the subject was an interest of his.

We are also looking for a good photograph of him, any suggestions?

Kieran,
Wartski, London

Kieran, may I ask you what a charka is?  I assume that due to the Faberge attribution and the GD George provenance it will be both rare and extremely valuable?
We will look for a suitable adult (?) photo of him.....

[DOMOVOII]

....the tcharki (?) I have seen were quite small,  like demi-tasse cups  or shot glasses, almost but fuller bodied, one or two-- I don't recall  right now, had antique coins for handles....Gold roubles from Catherine the Gts reign. Enamelled en plein  over guilloche they were beautiful, and I suppose afforded by many customers of Faberge before 1917. Though unfortunately, today , not I.

Copriolite... now there's a drinking vessel for you!!

Good luck with your investigations,

Domovoii

[Forum Admin]

George Alexandrovich in 1892

[DOMOVOII]

If you have access to a copy of von Habsburg and Lopato's Faberge Imperial Jeweller, p111 has a page of Faberge designs showing Tcharki.

Perhaps they are similar to stirrup cups,  a quick nip, for a stiffener!!

[Martyn]

If you have access to a copy of von Habsburg and Lopato's Faberge Imperial Jeweller, p111 has a page of Faberge designs showing Tcharki.

Perhaps they are similar to stirrup cups,  a quick nip, for a stiffener!!

How interesting.  Thanks for the information DOMOVOII.  I don't have this book and maybe should buy it to improve my Faberge knowledge!

[DOMOVOII]

Martyn, I highly recommend that book, it covers so many aspects of Faberge's work.The materials, the workshops, contemporary collectors and post revolution discoveries.

I picked mine up from ebay for under £20, I haven't seen it at Amazon, but have seen it available from Abe.com

Happy hunting!!

[Martyn]

Thank you very much for that DOMOVOII.  As I consider you to be vastly better informed about Faberge than I am, I will gladly follow your recommendation of this book.

[DOMOVOII]

 Martyn....I bow to you!! All I have tried to do is amass a collection of every title I can on the subject. I couldn't express an opinion after having only read one source, that would be wrong ( other's please take note) I have to have read all I can on a subject....just for my own satisfaction, if nothing else.

There are many other wonderful books on Faberge, a new favourite of mine is called "Golden Years of Faberge" which has many pages from H Wigstrom's design books, beside finished manufactured pieces, ex-quis-ite!!

[Martyn]

Martyn....I bow to you!! All I have tried to do is amass a collection of every title I can on the subject. I couldn't express an opinion after having only read one source, that would be wrong ( other's please take note) I have to have read all I can on a subject....just for my own satisfaction, if nothing else.

 There are many other wonderful books on Faberge, a new favourite of mine is called "Golden Years of Faberge" which has many pages from H Wigstrom's design books, beside finished manufactured pieces, ex-quis-ite!!

Now quit the modesty!  After your messages to me it did occur to me that you would have been more deserving of the trip that I made to Wartski.....Keep posting the info and maybe I'll learn something!
Best wishes
Martyn

[DOMOVOII]

Now quit the modesty!  After your messages to me it did occur to me that you would have been more deserving of the trip that I made to Wartski.....Keep posting the info and maybe I'll learn something!
Best wishes
Martyn

Next time eh? heh heh heh

[Robert_Hall]

Well, lo & behold, I have recently purchased the above mentioned Faberge  volume from the Queen's Gallery shop. A display copy in need of rebinding but text et al is clean. Now that I have the thing an am contemplating hauling it back to  SF, I am afraid I may ALREADY have a copy !! If so, I will put it up for grabs then.
Cheers
Robert

[grandduchessella]

If you have access to a copy of von Habsburg and Lopato's Faberge Imperial Jeweller, p111 has a page of Faberge designs showing Tcharki.

Perhaps they are similar to stirrup cups,  a quick nip, for a stiffener!!

I had just pulled this book off the shelf this morning when I read the message! Here is the illustration with the caption ' designs for tcharki in silver set with stones'

[Martyn]

Well, lo & behold, I have recently purchased the above mentioned Faberge  volume from the Queen's Gallery shop. A display copy in need of rebinding but text et al is clean. Now that I have the thing an am contemplating hauling it back to  SF, I am afraid I may ALREADY have a copy !! If so, I will put it up for grabs then.
Cheers
Robert

And just when did you forget my need for knowledge?  Huh?  I'm going to be ringing you about that!

[Martyn]

I had just pulled this book off the shelf this morning when I read the message! Here is the illustration with the caption ' designs for tcharki in silver set with stones'

I would certainly love one of those, gold or silver, with stones or without, I'm not fussed!