October 21, 2021

Royal Collection Trust

This miniature grand piano in Louis XVI style was made by Mikhail Perkhin. It’s made of nephrite with mounts of red and green gold, and the keyboard is opaque black and white enamel. Foliate swag mounts are around the edge and the top is hinged; 2” x 2.8” x 2”. Judging by her acquisitions, Queen Mary was particularly fond of Fabergé’s miniature objets de fantasie, which include several examples of miniature furniture in the form of bonbonnières. These objects afforded the craftsman the opportunity to demonstrate skill in applying specialist techniques to replicate the real materials of the full-scale object. This miniature piano of Siberian nephrite is carved and polished to resemble ebonized wood. The lid opens for use as a bonbonnière and the front drops down to reveal the keyboard in gold and enamel, inscribed “C. Fabergé.” The piano belonged originally to Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna and is also seen in one of the display cases in photographs of the exhibition of Fabergé held in St. Petersburg in 1902. Queen Mary acquired it sometime between 1922-1931.
Collectibles

Queen Elizabeth's Collection of Miniatures

Oct 6, 2021