Cleveland Museum of Art

Clock

Henrik Wigström

Date

c. 1905–15

Medium

rhodonite, silver, enamel, diamonds

Culture

Russia, St. Petersburg

Department

Decorative Art and Design

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

The use of Russian hardstones in creating precious objects became a hallmark of design from the House of Fabergé. Easily carved, these minerals were sourced largely from the western region surrounding the Ural Mountains. Fabergé's workmasters used colorful stones such as agate, nephrite (jade), lapis lazuli, rock crystal, and rhodonite, seen here in this small desk clock, to create and embellish flower studies, animal figures, and all manner of luxurious accessories. Bright pink rhodonite was among the rarest, and consequently most expensive, specimens used by the House of Fabergé. The bright pink color of this small desk clock is a result of manganese, the principle mineral found in rhodonite.

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