Clock (Cleveland Museum of Art 1966.476)
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
c. 1905–15
The use of Russian hardstones in creating precious objects became a hallmark of design from the House of Fabergé. Easily carved, these minerals were sourced largely from the western region surrounding the Ural Mountains. Fabergé's workmasters used colorful stones such as agate, nephrite (jade), lapis lazuli, rock crystal, and rhodonite, seen here in this small desk clock, to create and embellish flower studies, animal figures, and all manner of luxurious accessories. Bright pink rhodonite was among the rarest, and consequently most expensive, specimens used by the House of Fabergé. Cleveland Museum of Art object 1966.476: Clock, c. 1905–15. Henrik Wigström (Russian, 1862–1923), House of Fabergé (Russian, 1842–1918). Rhodonite, silver, enamel, diamonds; overall: 5.3 x 5 x 2.9 cm (2 1/16 x 1 15/16 x 1 1/8 in.). Inscribed: 88, Kokoshnik, lower-case alpha in script [assay mark for St. Petersburg, 1882-99]; H.W. [initials for workmaster Henrik Wigström]; Fabergé (in Cyrillic); 26217 scratched; swan. Fabergé in script on dial of clock; an abbreviation of "weekly wind" engraved in Cyrillic script on back.. Details are those of this museum object; how far it represents a wider type has not been independently verified.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 3
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
The bright pink color of this small desk clock is a result of manganese, the principle mineral found in rhodonite.
Physical characteristics
- Materials
- rhodonite, silver, enamel, diamonds
- Dimensions
- Overall: 5.3 x 5 x 2.9 cm (2 1/16 x 1 15/16 x 1 1/8 in.)
- Measurements
- Overall: 5.3 x 5 x 2.9 cm (2 1/16 x 1 15/16 x 1 1/8 in.)
- Material and technique
- rhodonite, silver, enamel, diamonds
Design
- Inscription
- 88, Kokoshnik, lower-case alpha in script [assay mark for St. Petersburg, 1882-99]; H.W. [initials for workmaster Henrik Wigström]; Fabergé (in Cyrillic); 26217 scratched; swan. Fabergé in script on dial of clock; an abbreviation of "weekly wind" engraved in Cyrillic script on back.
Identification
- Date recorded
- c. 1905–15
- Culture period
- Russia, St. Petersburg
- Maker recorded
- Henrik Wigström (Russian, 1862–1923), House of Fabergé (Russian, 1842–1918)
- Museum attribution
- Henrik Wigström (Russian, 1862–1923); House of Fabergé (Russian, 1842–1918)
- Holding institution
- Cleveland Museum of Art
- Museum object number
- 1966.476
- Published references
- Hawley, Henry H. Fabergé and His Contemporaries: The India Early Minshall Collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Cleveland, OH: Cleveland Museum of Art, 1967. Mentioned: p. 38, cat. 15; reproduced: p. 39 · Harrison, Stephen, Emmanuel Ducamp, and Jeannine J. Falino. Artistic Luxury: Fabergé Tiffany Lalique. Cleveland, OH: Cleveland Museum of Art in association with New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2008. Mentioned: p. 39, cat. 49
- Museum classification
- Timepiece
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: this record describes a single museum object; confirm the wider type, maker attribution and specifications against horological references.