Fabergé
Seal on ice floe c. 1900
Obsidian, rock crystal | 6.4 x 12.3 x 7.8 cm (whole object) | RCIN 40811
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This is one of the most successful combinations of hardstones used by Fabergé's sculptors. Birbaum describes how the obsidian perfectly captures the wet sheen of the animal's skin, while the rock crystal represents an ice floe. Fabergé repeated the successful combination of rock crystal and obsidian for sea lions on ice floes. There are four Fabergé seals and sea lions in the Royal Collection, and a further model is known in the De Grigné collection. It is not known who purchased this example, but a seal on an ice floe was bought by the Maclaine [sic] of Lochbuie from Fabergé’s London branch in July 1911 and could have been presented as a gift to King George V or Queen Mary.
Text adapted from Fabergé in the Royal CollectionProvenance
Probably acquired by King George V and Queen Mary
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Medium and techniques
Obsidian, rock crystal
Measurements
6.4 x 12.3 x 7.8 cm (whole object)