ANTIQUE 20thC RUSSIAN FABERGE LIGHTER IN THE FORM OF A CHIMPANZEE c.1900
20th Century Imperial Russian silver cigar lighter, realistically cast and chased as a chimpanzee looking over his shoulder at his tail.
Hallmarked Russian silver 88 (915), St-Petersburg, 1896-1908, Fabergé in Cyrillic with the Imperial warrant, scratched inventory number 7031, Maker's mark I.P for Julius Rappoport and French import marks.
Reference Number: A5771
DESCRIPTION
Antique early-20th Century Imperial Russian solid silver cigar lighter, realistically cast and chased as a chimpanzee looking over his shoulder at his tail. Hallmarked Russian silver 88 (915 standard), St-Petersburg, 1896-1908, Faberge in Cyrillic with the Imperial warrant, scratched inventory number 7031, Maker's mark I.P (Julius Rappoport) and French import marks.
Of Jewish origins, Isaac Abramovich Rappoport was born in 1851 (although some sources say 1864) in Lithuania. After his apprenticeship in Berlin, he became a master in 1884 and moved to St-Petersburg, where he opened his own workshop and started working as head silversmith for Fabergé. A few years later he became a Christian and changed his name to Julius Alexander.
Rappoport produced a wide range of items, from small objects to large decorative pieces. Particularly sought after are his naturalistic animal figures, portrayed in lively and playful poses but he also executed massive centrepieces for the Imperial family, the Danish Royal family and aristocrats.
At his retirement in the early 1900s, Rappoport left the workshop and all its equipment to his workmen, who formed the First St-Petersburg Artel. Unfortunately the Artel ceased working a few years later due to insolvency and a decline in quality.
CONDITION
In Great Condition - No Damage.
SIZE
Height: 12cm
Width: 8 x 8cm
Weight: 480g
