AuctionsJan 16, 2025
Elizabeth Taylor’s Diamond Line Bracelet Going up for Auction AuctionsFeb 18, 2025
A Menagerie of Fabergé Coming to Sotheby’s
Around 30 whimsical Fabergé animal carvings will go up for auction at Sotheby’s Geneva in May.
A selection of carved Fabergé animals from Castle Howard will appear in Sotheby’s “Fabergé, Gold Boxes, & Vertu” auction in Geneva on May 6, with part of the proceeds going to benefit the restoration of the estate’s tapestry drawing room, which was damaged in a 1940 fire.
London—On May 6, Sotheby’s will auction off a collection of Fabergé animals from Castle Howard, the 300-year-old home to the Howard family, a British dynasty whose members have been collectors of art and furnishing for generations.
The estate, a country house in the hills of North Yorkshire, features antiquities, paintings, furniture, and works of art, including one of the last important groups of Fabergé animals in private hands, Sotheby’s said.
The animals were crafted with Fabergé’s whimsical charm, influenced by the miniaturist carving traditions of Japan, China, and Europe—such as Japanese netsukes, of which Carl Fabergé had his own collection—and generally small enough to fit in one’s hand.
Until now, they were stored in a leather case in the private reaches of the estate, brought out only once or twice a year to adorn the dining table for a large dinner party.
The collection also has parallels to the “Sandringham” collection of Fabergé animals commissioned for King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra in 1907 and now held in the Royal Collection, according to the auction house.
“In just over 30 exquisite works, the Fabergé animals from Castle Howard parallel both those owned by the British Royal Family and members of the Russian Imperial Court,” said Helen Culver Smith, Sotheby’s global head of Fabergé and Russian works of art.
“With the latter disassembled by [the Russian] Revolution and the former still held in the Royal Collection, the sale of these hidden treasures marks an exceptional opportunity for collectors worldwide to acquire pieces that fully demonstrate why Fabergé earned a prime position in royal and noble collections throughout Europe.”
Fabergé’s production of hardstone animals included pigs, dogs, frogs, ducks, and elephants in a range of poses and colors.
The pieces on offer at Sotheby’s Geneva in May range in scale from a tiny vole carved of smoky quartz to a large obsidian rhinoceros.
An elephant carved in rock crystal is estimated to fetch £20,000 to £30,000 (approximately $25,180 to $37,770).
The estate, a country house in the hills of North Yorkshire, features antiquities, paintings, furniture, and works of art, including one of the last important groups of Fabergé animals in private hands, Sotheby’s said.
The animals were crafted with Fabergé’s whimsical charm, influenced by the miniaturist carving traditions of Japan, China, and Europe—such as Japanese netsukes, of which Carl Fabergé had his own collection—and generally small enough to fit in one’s hand.
Until now, they were stored in a leather case in the private reaches of the estate, brought out only once or twice a year to adorn the dining table for a large dinner party.
The collection also has parallels to the “Sandringham” collection of Fabergé animals commissioned for King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra in 1907 and now held in the Royal Collection, according to the auction house.
“In just over 30 exquisite works, the Fabergé animals from Castle Howard parallel both those owned by the British Royal Family and members of the Russian Imperial Court,” said Helen Culver Smith, Sotheby’s global head of Fabergé and Russian works of art.
“With the latter disassembled by [the Russian] Revolution and the former still held in the Royal Collection, the sale of these hidden treasures marks an exceptional opportunity for collectors worldwide to acquire pieces that fully demonstrate why Fabergé earned a prime position in royal and noble collections throughout Europe.”
Fabergé’s production of hardstone animals included pigs, dogs, frogs, ducks, and elephants in a range of poses and colors.
The pieces on offer at Sotheby’s Geneva in May range in scale from a tiny vole carved of smoky quartz to a large obsidian rhinoceros.
An elephant carved in rock crystal is estimated to fetch £20,000 to £30,000 (approximately $25,180 to $37,770).
This rock crystal elephant is one of the largest animals in the Howard collection.
A rare Fabergé jeweled bloodstone model of an anteater, made in St. Petersburg, Russia, between 1887 and 1900
More exotic animals appeared less frequently.
An anteater carved in bloodstone ranks among the rarest, said the auction house, with only a few known examples of the animal in existence.
It is estimated to sell for £45,000 to £65,000 (approximately $56,650 to $81,830).
British jeweler Kenneth Snowman has described Fabergé’s animals as “essays in stone,” as the brand took great care in sourcing material with the right colors and markings for each creature.
A rhinoceros that is part of the auction is made in white obsidian, an iridescent variation of the typically dark volcanic mineral, with natural effects that mimic the wrinkles in the animal’s skin.
This obsidian rhinoceros, St. Petersburg, circa 1900, was potentially inspired by Albrecht Dürer’s inaccurate print, “A Rhinoceros,” of which there has been a woodcut print in the Royal Collection since circa 1810, according to the auction house.
The auction house said it is an “exceptionally rare” example of a large Fabergé carved animal figure.
It is estimated to sell for £50,000 to £70,000 (approximately $62,950 to $88,130).
Fabergé also utilized a range of agates, often found in the Ural Mountains of Russia with red, brown, or gray hues, that suggested natural variations in fur, feathers, or hide.
A Fabergé jeweled agate model of a Siberian ibex (right), St. Petersburg, circa 1900-1914
A Siberian ibex on offer is formed of one piece of single stone, the negative space between the horns and the body a testament to Fabergé’s understanding for carving in three dimensions, according to Sotheby’s.
It’s estimated to fetch £45,000 to £65,000 (approximately $56,650 to $81,830).
The Howard collection also features a selection of birds, including a gold-mounted owl figure, an owl study in nephrite, and a rare agate model of a hoopoe with gold feet.
A gold-mounted owl-figure (est. £40,000 to £60,000, or approximately $50,360 to $75,540)
A jeweled agate model of a hare with diamond eyes (est. £40,000 to £60,000, or approximately $50,360 to $75,540)
A miniature smoky quartz model of a vole (right) and a topaz model of a rat (left), both estimated to sell for £20,000 to £30,000, or approximately $25,180 to $37,770
Charming woodland creatures are also on offer, featuring a hare carved from aventurine quartz, a topaz model of a rat, and a small smoky quartz vole.
The Howard collection, which also includes Fabergé and European desk accessories, will be offered as part of Sotheby’s “Fabergé, Gold Boxes, & Vertu” auction in Geneva in May.
Part of the proceeds from the sale will go toward the restoration of the tapestry drawing room in Castle Howard, which sustained damage in a fire in 1940.
Castle Howard was built for the 3rd Earl of Carlisle, designed by his friend, architect and dramatist John Vanbrugh, in 1699.
“I’m sad to be losing this beautiful collection, but it deserves to be seen more often than it currently is. And the proceeds of the sale will assist us in the re-creation of the tapestry drawing room, which will be seen by everyone who comes through the house,” said Nicholas Howard, who runs the estate today with his wife, Victoria.
The reopening of the space is set for April and will feature a return of the tapestries that originally hung in the room.
Prior to the “Fabergé, Gold Boxes, & Vertu” auction on May 6, highlights will be exhibited to the public at Sotheby’s Dubai from April 7 to 11, at Sotheby’s London from April 25 to 29, and at the Mandarin Oriental in Geneva in May.
For more information on the collection, visit the Sotheby’s website.
More on Auctions
The Latest
FinancialsAug 15, 2025
In Q2 Results, Pandora Talks Tariffs, Q4 Plans The company had a solid second quarter, with sales of non-charm jewelry outpacing sales of pieces in its core collections.
EditorsAug 15, 2025
Piece of the Week: Etho Maria’s Showgirl-Approved Ruby Drop Earrings Taylor Swift dons the vibrant pair in new promotional imagery for her upcoming album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” set to release in October.
WatchesAug 15, 2025
Audemars Piguet Acquires Majority Stake in ManufacturerIts investment in micromechanics expert Inhotec will preserve skills essential to the watchmaking industry as a whole, said the company.
Brought to you by
Taking the Moment Head On: How Rio Grande Champions the Present & Future of Fine JewelryAs a leading global jewelry supplier, Rio Grande is rapidly expanding and developing new solutions to meet the needs of jewelers worldwide.
MajorsAug 15, 2025
Rio Grande Names New Marketing DirectorNicolette Bianchi joins the wholesale provider with more than 15 years of cross-industry experience in marketing and product development.
Weekly QuizAug 15, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CollectionsAug 14, 2025
In Midst of ‘Sardine Girl Summer,’ Pippa Small Looks to ‘Flounder Fall’Her new “Ocean” collection was inspired by Myanmar’s traditional articulated fish jewelry, with depictions of flounder, catfish, and more.
MajorsAug 14, 2025
Casio America Names New CEOLongtime Casio executive Yusuke Suzuki is the new president and CEO of Casio’s U.S. subsidiary.
Brought to you by
Investing in the Next Generation of Bench JewelersThe Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.
SourcingAug 14, 2025
West Coast Orgs to Host Trading Event, Mixer in LAThe full-day sourcing and networking event, slated for Aug. 18, will be followed by the fifth annual Mega Mixer Summer Soirée.
TrendsAug 13, 2025
Cristiano Ronaldo Proposes With Gigantic Oval-Cut DiamondModel Georgina Rodríguez received a rock of an engagement ring, with her diamond estimated to be 35 carats, experts say.
SourcingAug 13, 2025
ICA Names 2025 Board of DirectorsThe board elected 9 new directors at its recent ICA Congress in Brazil.
TrendsAug 13, 2025
Colorado Jeweler, Whiskey Maker Collab on Ring GiveawayThree winners will receive a custom ring from Honest Hands Ring Co. inlaid with a piece of history from Denver-based distillery Stranahan’s.
SurveysAug 13, 2025
These Are The 25 Hottest Retailers, Says NRFJD Sports and Wawa were among the fastest-growing retail companies in the U.S. last year.
SourcingAug 13, 2025
Columbia Gem House Launches Winza Sapphires, RubiesThe new inventory, all untreated, features vibrant hues and unique bicolor combinations.
SourcingAug 12, 2025
Gemfields Sells Fabergé for $50MAcquired by a tech investor, the historic brand will continue to focus on jewelry, accessories, and timepieces.
Policies & IssuesAug 12, 2025
Higher Tariff on Chinese Imports Paused for 90 Days, Trump SaysPresident Donald Trump issued an executive order extending the pause on higher tariffs to November as negotiations with China continue.
CollectionsAug 12, 2025
Jacquie Aiche’s New Collection Harnesses the Energy of the ThunderbirdThe “Thunderbird Slab” collection features a thunderbird motif as a symbol of power, protection, and boundless possibility.
ColumnistsAug 12, 2025
Creative Connecting: How to Take a Better HeadshotColumnists Jen Cullen Williams and Duvall O’Steen share tips on how to elevate your professional image.
CrimeAug 11, 2025
Man Convicted of First-Degree Murder in Death of Colorado JewelerPeter Damian Arguello, a jeweler in the Denver suburb of Wheat Ridge, was found dead inside his store in November 2023.
IndependentsAug 11, 2025
Lisa Bridge to Depart Ben Bridge JewelerThe retailer, owned by Berkshire Hathaway, is becoming part of the Berkshire Hathaway Jewelry Group with Helzberg.
Events & AwardsAug 11, 2025
Bethenny Frankel to Give Keynote at CBG’s Experience ShowThe Continental Buying Group’s 2025 Tampa Experience Show is slated for Sept. 8-10.
EditorsAug 11, 2025
The Colors Expected to Be On-Trend in a Couple YearsAssociate Editor Lauren McLemore recently attended a fabrics trade show where a trend forecaster shared her predictions for summer 2027.
FinancialsAug 08, 2025
Brilliant Earth’s Q2 Sales Up 3% as Engagement Ring Sales RiseThe company raised its full-year sales guidance while noting it has not yet assessed the potential impact of the latest tariff news.
Events & AwardsAug 08, 2025
GJEPC’s Jewellers for Hope Celebrates 10 Years of FundraisingThe organization has raised more than $1.3 million for charity since its inception.
TrendsAug 08, 2025
Piece of the Week: Rahaminov Diamonds’ Bezel BangleThe brand’s latest iteration of a bezel-set diamond bangle features clean lines and a timeless design for a new modern silhouette.
WatchesAug 07, 2025
Bulova’s New Collection Honors Tony BennettThe first watch in the series commemorates his participation in the Civil Rights movement, marching from Selma to Montgomery in 1965.
Lab-GrownAug 07, 2025
Chatham Releases Catalog for Loose Lab-Grown GemstonesThe catalog contains a complete listing of all the loose gemstones in stock, as well as information about the properties of each stone.
