Vicmart

Important 19th or early 20th century Imperial Austrian parasol / umbrella handle made for the Royal Palace. The handle is made of Mother of Pearl body with heavy 18 karat yellow gold base all paved with rhombus shaped sapphires around edge and further topped with a gold, diamond and sapphire 4 leaf lucky clover centerpiece. All sapphires are superb natural untreated Ceylon gems with estimated total weight of over 4 carats. There are a total of 17 rhombus shaped sapphires set and encircling throughout the lower edge of the handle each measuring about 0.15ct. / 3x3x2mm or estimated 2.55 carats in total. The 4 pear shaped sapphires closed set for each clover leaf have a combined weight of 1.50 carats and measuring 6.7x4.3x2.6mm, 6.4x4x2.3mm plus 2 similarly sized one measuring 5.9x4.2mm respectively. There are also 6 rose cut / mine cut small diamonds set along the clover, which have a combined weight of no more than 0.1 carat. The handle is 38mm tall and is 23mm wide at its widest part, while gold and sapphire base is 18mm in diameter. Gross weight of the piece is 34.3 grams, but since the gold base covers fully the bottom of the handle plus it is clear that it is also going fully within the nacre body, it is estimated that gold weight should be about 12-15 grams. There are several maker’s marks, hallmarks and inventory numbers visible at very bottom of the handle. Besides the Imperial Austrian hallmark for 18 karat gold, there is also a “2G” or “2C” mark, as well as a struck inventory number “25144”. This particular type of “object de vertu” was exclusively crafted for the Royal Palace, Royal family of the Austrian Emperor or other closely related members of the court. The piece is by all means analogical to similar parasol handles crafted by the Faberge firm and its workmasters for the Imperial Russian family. Normally Faberge pieces fetch very high hammer prices at major auctions, but Austrian pieces of same quality are no less scarce and are seldom seen at auctions. Yet unidentified (could be Köchert / Koechert), but most likely crafted by one of the major Imperial Austrian court jewelers and masters. Scarce antique Imperial Austrian object of virtue collector piece and one of the rare Austrian Royal Palace era jewels and precious objects.