Lot 258: AN ANTIQUE GOLD, PEARL AND DIAMOND LOCKET PENDANT/BROOCH, BY GUSTAV FABERGÉ

AN ANTIQUE GOLD, PEARL AND DIAMOND LOCKET PENDANT/BROOCH, BY GUSTAV FABERGÉ
The circular pendant with applied central plaque set with a pearl and rose-cut diamonds and flanked by lines of split pearls, to the split pearl pendant hoop, with locket opening to the reverse, both pendant and brooch fittings detachable, 4.5 cm long, circa 1860, with marks for 14k gold, in original G. Fabergé fitted brown leather case
By Gustav Fabergé, with workmaster's mark W.R. (Cyrillic) for Wilhelm Reimer

Gustav Fabergé, the father of Karl, was the first of the Huguenot Fabergé line to travel to Russia. Born in Parnau, Estonia, he left for Russia at an early age, where he studied goldsmithing in St. Petersburg, and opened his own jewellery shop on Bolshaia Morskaia Street in 1842. The shop was immensely successful, as the conventional jewellery shop of the period, and Gustav was able to retire in 1860, leaving the business in the very capable hands of his sons.

Workmaster Wilhelm Reimer worked for the Fabergé firm making jewels and gold objects, and died circa 1898.