Lot 28: A Fabergé miniature gold-mounted and jewelled nephrite paperknife, workmaster: Erik Kollin, St. Petersburg, circa 1890

the fine nephrite blade set in a tapered gold handle set with a sapphire, with workmaster's initials and scratched inventory number: 4198356 standard, in a Fabergé fitted red leather case inscribed in pen: Willy 1891

length: 8cm, 3 1/8in

Munich, Kunsthalle der Hypo-Kulturstiftung, Fabergé Hofjuwelier de Zaren, 5 December 1986 - 22 February 1987, cat. no. 118
Munich, Kunsthalle der Hypo-Kulturstiftung, Fabergé-Cartier Rivalen am Zarenhof, 28 November 2003 - 12 April 2004, cat. no. 3

Géza von Habsburg, Fabergé Hofjuwelier de Zaren, Munich, 1986, p. 143
Géza von Habsburg, Fabergé-Cartier Rivalen am Zarenhof, Munich, 2003, p. 148

Presented to Princess Thyra of Denmark, Duchess of Cumberland by her brother, George I, King of the Hellenes, (1845-1913)

A PRESENT FROM GEORGE I, KING OF THE HELLENES
The inscription "Willy" refers to the childhood name of Princess Thyra's brother Prince William. In 1863, aged only seventeen, he accepted the Kingdom of Greece, ruling as George I, King of the Hellenes. Like his siblings, he assembled an impressive collection of Fabergé, much of which was sold: Christie's, London, 24th January 2007.