Christie’s announces results of A Selection of Faberge Masterpieces from The Harry Woolf Collection which took place live today at Christie’s London.
The pre-sale low estimate was more than doubled with competitive bidding in the room and online throughout the sale. At closing the auction had attracted successful buyers from more than 18 countries and 4 continents. Competitive bidding from Russian clients both in the sale room and online today was seen in particular on the hardstone animals and works in Russian style. Christie’s welcomed clients from around the world to the sale room today while 21% of successful buyers were based in Russia.
The selection comprised 86 pieces from Mr. Woolf’s extraordinary Fabergé collection which he personally composed over a period of nearly fifty years, from the 1970’s until 2019.
Alexis de Tiesenhausen, International Head of the Russian Art Department, and Margo Oganesian, Russian Works of Art Specialist comment, “The sale achieved excellent results, selling at 98% and double the overall pre-sale estimate which is testament to Harry Woolf’s incredible collection and his dedication to only collecting the very finest examples of Fabergé during his lifetime. It is very rare to see a single owner collection of Fabergé of such breadth and quality come to the market and the global interest shown today, along with the competitive bidding is indicative of the continued fascination in the House of Fabergé, its unparalled craftsmanship and the caché attributed to owning a piece of such repute”.
Sale highlights:
Lot 1 - A jewelled agate model of a cat by Fabergé, St Petersburg, circa 1900, in the original fitted Fabergé wooden case 2 1⁄8 in. (5.5 cm.) long. (Illustrated below left). (Estimate 15,000-25,000) realised £137,500.
Lot 2 - A jewelled kalgan jasper model of a rhinoceros by Fabergé, St Petersburg, circa 1900 in the original fitted Fabergé wooden case 2 3⁄8 in. (6 cm.) long. (Illustrated below right). (Estimate £20,000-30,000) realised £100,000.
Lot 5 - A large jewelled gold-mounted yellow chalcedony model of a duckling by Fabergé, workmaster Henrik Wigström, St Petersburg, 1899-1904. (Illustrated below centre). (Estimate £25,000-35,000) realised £137,500.