Russia, St. Petersburg / c. 1885–1915
Flower Study of a Lily of the Valley
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Flower Study of a Lily of the Valley as miscellaneous (Russia, St. Petersburg · c. 1885–1915).
The stems of Fabergé’s flower studies are set into little basins carved from rock crystal to resemble pots of water.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this miscellaneous as pearls, diamonds, jade, rock crystal, silver, gold and credits House of Fabergé (Russian, 1842–1918).
The museum's collection notes: This flower study resembles a stem of lily-of-the-valley. Fabergé’s inspiration for his flower studies is said to have come from the floral brooches of precious stones that were made in the 1700s for Catherine the Great as well as from the Japanese art of flower arranging, known as ikebana. Small and delicate, Fabergé’s flower studies were given as intimate gifts to friends by the tsarina and others in the court. She also liked to take them around to wherever the imperial family was residing as a reminder of spring during the harsh Russian winters.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtFlower Study of a Lily of the ValleyOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.