Gem Jewelry

Rhodonite in the works of Faberge

Rhodonite mantel clock in a silver frame made by the First Silver Artel height 30.5 cm Faberge firm 1899 1904.
Rhodonite mantel clock in a silver frame made by the First Silver Artel height 30.5 cm Faberge firm 1899 1904.

Among the Ural gems, rhodonite occupies a special place. Vases and floor lamps made of rhodonite adorn the halls of the Hermitage and other royal palaces. And in the Peter and Paul Cathedral there are rhodonite sarcophagi of members of the royal family. The remarkable color of this stone, whose Russian name is orlets, is associated with the status of the imperial gem. It is not for nothing that the rhodonite deposit in the Urals was the property of the imperial family.

The Malo-Sedelnikovskoye rhodonite deposit (“Orletsovaya Gora”) was discovered at the end of the 18th century. Rhodonite has been mined there open pit for almost 200 years. It was the first deposit of ornamental stone discovered in Russia, and for a long time it remained the only Russian rhodonite deposit. Initially, the stone was mined in an open way. The mined stone was stored along the perimeter of the quarry. This is what development looked like over a hundred years ago.

Carl Faberge’s firm produced a variety of rhodonite jewelry, from large bowls and trays to small animal figurines, writing instruments and umbrella handles. Lapidary work for the Fabergé company was usually carried out at the Werfel factory, and the company’s craftsmen supplied the products with exquisite jewelry settings. A large number of Faberge’s works with rhodonite are kept in the British Royal Collection.

The first silver artel was located at 69 Catherine Canal. It worked under a contract with the Faberge firm and consisted of 69 silversmiths who had previously worked for Julius Rappoport. In 1910, Rappoport transferred ownership of his workshops to his employees and retired. The workshop continued to work for the Faberge firm.

Rhodonite in the works of Faberge

Clock in a frame of rhodonite and gilded silver height 35.5 cm Hjalmar Armfeldt Faberge firm 1908 1917.
Clock in a frame of rhodonite and gilded silver height 35.5 cm Hjalmar Armfeldt Faberge firm 1908 1917.
Carved figure of an ibis in rhodonite with gilded silver beak and legs on a jade base in the shape of a water lily eyes inlaid with emeralds Faberge firm circa 1910.
Carved figure of an ibis in rhodonite with gilded silver beak and legs on a jade base in the shape of a water lily eyes inlaid with emeralds Faberge firm circa 1910.
Casket made of rhodonite in a silver frame lock decorated with garnet length 17.7 cm Faberge firm 1899 1908.
Casket made of rhodonite in a silver frame lock decorated with garnet length 17.7 cm Faberge firm 1899 1908.
Rare figured bell in Art Nouveau style in the form of a silver water nymph leaning on a rhodonite dome the bell button is made of chalcedony Faberge firm 1899 1908.
Rare figured bell in Art Nouveau style in the form of a silver water nymph leaning on a rhodonite dome the bell button is made of chalcedony Faberge firm 1899 1908.
Miniature vase made of rhodonite in a gold frame craftsman Mikhail Perkhin Faberge firm 1895 1903.
Miniature vase made of rhodonite in a gold frame craftsman Mikhail Perkhin Faberge firm 1895 1903.
Rhodonite box with NG monogram under an imperial crown in a gilded silver setting set with diamonds Faberge circa 1895.
Rhodonite box with NG monogram under an imperial crown in a gilded silver setting set with diamonds Faberge circa 1895.
Rhodonite perfume bottle in a gold frame decorated with precious stones and enamel craftsman Henrik Immanuel Wigstrom Faberge firm 1908 1917.
Rhodonite perfume bottle in a gold frame decorated with precious stones and enamel craftsman Henrik Immanuel Wigstrom Faberge firm 1908 1917.
Small rhodonite table clock set in gold silver and enamel craftsman Henrik Immanuel Wigstrom Faberge firm circa 1910
Small rhodonite table clock set in gold silver and enamel craftsman Henrik Immanuel Wigstrom Faberge firm circa 1910
Bell button in rhodonite encrusted with precious stones set in gold craftsman Henrik Immanuel Wigstrom Faberge firm circa 1910
Bell button in rhodonite encrusted with precious stones set in gold craftsman Henrik Immanuel Wigstrom Faberge firm circa 1910
Carved rhodonite handle inlaid with pearls set in gold with guilloche enamel by Mikhail Perkhin Faberge circa 1895.
Carved rhodonite handle inlaid with pearls set in gold with guilloche enamel by Mikhail Perkhin Faberge circa 1895.
Rhodonite tray in a silver frame width 27 cm aster Hjalmar Armfeldt Faberge firm 1908 1917.
Tray in a silver frame width 27 cm aster Hjalmar Armfeldt Faberge firm 1908 1917.
Rhodonite bowl in a frame decorated with demantoid garnets and enamel width 9 cm craftsman Henrik Immanuel Wigstrom Faberge firm 1908 1917.
Rhodonite bowl in a frame decorated with demantoid garnets and enamel width 9 cm craftsman Henrik Immanuel Wigstrom Faberge firm 1908 1917.
Rhodonite bowl in a silver frame decorated with floral curls rubies diamonds sapphires and garnets diameter 11.6 cm by Julius Rappoport Faberge firm circa 1899 1903.
Rhodonite bowl in a silver frame decorated with floral curls rubies diamonds sapphires and garnets diameter 11.6 cm by Julius Rappoport Faberge firm circa 1899 1903.
Tazza in rhodonite in a silver frame height 26.3 cm craftsman Henrik Immanuel Wigstrom Faberge firm circa 1908 1917.
Tazza in rhodonite in a silver frame height 26.3 cm craftsman Henrik Immanuel Wigstrom Faberge firm circa 1908 1917.
Rhodonite ladle in a silver frame length 9 cm craftsman Henrik Immanuel Wigstrom Faberge firm circa 1899 1908.
Rhodonite ladle in a silver frame length 9 cm craftsman Henrik Immanuel Wigstrom Faberge firm circa 1899 1908.
Elephant carved in rhodonite decorated with olivines length 7.6 cm Faberge circa 1910 British Royal Collection. The Royal Collection alone contains forty nine pieces.
Elephant carved in rhodonite decorated with olivines length 7.6 cm Faberge circa 1910 British Royal Collection. The Royal Collection alone contains forty nine pieces.
Raspberry branch in a glass rhodonite jade rock crystal gold height 9 cm Faberge circa 1900 British Royal Collection.
Raspberry branch in a glass rhodonite jade rock crystal gold height 9 cm Faberge circa 1900 British Royal Collection.
Pine in matt gilded platinum in a rhodonite bowl set with diamonds height 9 cm by Henrik Immanuel Wigstrom Faberge circa 1896 1908 British Royal Collection.
Pine in matt gilded platinum in a rhodonite bowl set with diamonds height 9 cm by Henrik Immanuel Wigstrom Faberge circa 1896 1908 British Royal Collection.
Glass of rhodonite on a support in the form of birds paws in gold and enamel height 5.7 cm 1908 1923 British Royal Collection.
Glass of rhodonite on a support in the form of birds paws in gold and enamel height 5.7 cm 1908 1923 British Royal Collection.
Rhodonite box in gold frame with guilloche enamel length 7.3 cm by Henrik Immanuel Wigstrom 1910 British Royal Collection.
Rhodonite box in gold frame with guilloche enamel length 7.3 cm by Henrik Immanuel Wigstrom 1910 British Royal Collection.
Glass of rhodonite decorated with a flower of two tone gold and pearls height 6 cm by Victor Aarne 1896 1908 British Royal Collection.
Glass of rhodonite decorated with a flower of two tone gold and pearls height 6 cm by Victor Aarne 1896 1908 British Royal Collection.
Rhodonite pen rest set in gold with enamel and diamonds 4.4 cm long 1900 British Royal Collection.
Rhodonite pen rest set in gold with enamel and diamonds 4.4 cm long 1900 British Royal Collection. Rhodonite in the works of Faberge.
Round box in gold with rhodonite decorated with guilloche enamel diameter 6.4 cm by Henrik Immanuel Wigstrom 1908 1917 British Royal Collection.
Round box in gold with rhodonite decorated with guilloche enamel diameter 6.4 cm by Henrik Immanuel Wigstrom 1908 1917 British Royal Collection.
Egg shaped box made of rhodonite with a clasp in the form of a fleur de lis of gold and diamonds height 5.8 cm craftsman Mikhail Perkhin 1896 1903.
Egg shaped box made of rhodonite with a clasp in the form of a fleur de lis of gold and diamonds height 5.8 cm craftsman Mikhail Perkhin 1896 1903.
Rhodonite bowl exhibited at the World Exhibition in Vienna in 1873 from the collection of the State Hermitage.
Rhodonite bowl exhibited at the World Exhibition in Vienna in 1873 from the collection of the State Hermitage.
Ceramic bottle for gum arabic in a silver frame with a rhodonite stopper height 11 cm craftsman Anders Nevalainen Faberge firm 1899 1904.
Ceramic bottle for gum arabic in a silver frame with a rhodonite stopper height 11 cm craftsman Anders Nevalainen Faberge firm 1899 1904. Rhodonite in the works of Faberge.