Fabergé collection leads Christie’s sale

A rare Fabergé collection will be a highlight of Christie’s upcoming The London Collections sale, presenting works of art from some of Britain’s most distinguished residences, including Luton Hoo (Bedfordshire), Canford Manor (Dorset), Wimborne House (London) and Ashby St. Ledgers Manor (Northamptonshire). Many lots have never been on the market before and others are at auction for the first time in over a century.  

Rare examples of Fabergé from The Wernher Collection, one of the most significant and exuberant collections to appear on the market in recent decades, are led by rare hardstone flower studies of forget-me-nots, estimated at £150,000-250,000 and wild strawberries, estimated at £120,000-180,000, which are among the most delicate objects by Fabergé, creating the illusion of fresh flowers picked and placed in a rock crystal vase

The collection was assembled by Lady Zia, Countess Anastasia Mikhailovna de Torby, and her husband Sir Harold Wernher Bt., who exhibited their outstanding collection of European art and Fabergé at their Luton Hoo Estate for nearly half a century.

Most of the Fabergé objects have imperial provenance and came directly from Lady Zia’s parents, Grand Duke Michael Mikhailovich of Russia and Countess Sophie Merenberg, Countess de Torby, who were among the principle clients of Fabergé in both London and St Petersburg. Some are recorded as purchases by Emperor Nicholas II as well as his mother Empress Maria Feodorovna and it is possible that they were gifts to Grand Duke Michael from his family. The collection also showcases Countess Torby’s fascination with elephants, representing a variety of models in different sizes and various hardstones, estimates from £6,000 to £35,000.

A collection of Fabergé of this significance, variety and with direct imperial provenance has not appeared on the auction market in decades, providing collectors with a rare opportunity to acquire some of the last hidden treasures by Fabergé still in private hands.

The second group of property is from the collection of the Viscount Wimborne, which tells the story of one of Britain’s most successful industrial and cultural families. As ironmasters of the largest ironworks in the world, the Barons and later Viscounts Wimborne played a crucial role in the global industrial revolution and were prominent political and society figures.

This collection of property was acquired for the famed residences of the family at Canford Manor, Wimborne House and Ashby St Ledgers Manor and reflects the breadth and quality of aristocratic collecting from the early 19th century into the first half of the 20th century. Comprising French, Italian and English furniture, silver, porcelain and English and Italian old master paintings and drawings, the Viscount Wimborne’s property evokes the glamour and romance of a lost world of celebrated residences in both town and country furnished with works of art of the highest calibre.

The core collections of the sale are completed by a group of silver from the Earl of Suffolk and Berkshire which tells a fascinating narrative of the family history, reflecting various marriages, appointments to public office and personal achievements. The collection also reflects the evolution in dining habits of a noble English family from the Georgian to Victorian eras, all brought to life by the most renowned goldsmiths, including the Huguenot David Willaume, royal goldsmith Paul Storr, and the Barnard Brothers.

Further beautiful and important works of art from noble and private collections are offered in the sale, including pieces formerly in the collections of Rudolf Nureyev and Baron Edmond de Rothschild.

The London sale takes place from March 26 to April 9.