An extremely rare Fabergé gilded silver and shaded cloisonne enamel cup & saucer, workmaster Feodor Rückert, Moscow, circa 1908-1917, with original Faberge scratched inventory number 33048 or 33098. The cup with semi-circular bowl raised on a column stem & domed, spreading foot & the saucer with high rim, raised on ring foot. The exterior of the bowl & the outer band of the saucer decorated with four circular organic motifs in turquoise blue & coral red against opaque white & lapis blue frames from which numerous coral red or black feather- or leaf-like forms project & which is interrupted by a single, small symmetrical coil of gilt cloisons; this primary element alternates with stylized tulips & scrolling foliate forms in a similar palette. The entire design is reserved against a mottled, or “duck’s egg,” pale grey-blue ground. The stem & foot of the cup are enameled with a pattern of scrolling flowerheads & berries in coral red, turquoise, & olive green; the enameled band about the gilt cavetto decorated with a scrolling ornament in opaque white, olive green, & coral red against a lapis blue ground. Struck on undersides with K. Fabergé in Cyrillic with Imperial warrant overstriking Rückert’s mark (ФР), 88 silver standard (.875), &  Fabergé scratched inventory number. Gross weight of cup: 200 grams. Gross weight of saucer: 256 grams. Height of cup: 3 ¼” (8.2 cm). Diameter of saucer: 5 ¾” (14.6 cm).

Provenance:
Christie’s New York, The Greenfield Collection of Russian Enamels, October 20, 1998, lot 142