Hemispherical, the wings enamelled in translucent red over a reeded guilloché ground, with an opaque black head, with white, black and red details, with rose-cut diamond-set bands, the gold underside realistically modelled with six legs, marked on pin and loop, also with later Soviet marks
1¹⁄₈ in. (2.7 cm.) long

Acquired by the mother of the present owner circa 1970.

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Lot Essay

A number of Fabergé's workmasters created designs inspired by ladybirds in the form of brooches, boxes and pendants. The ladybird has significant symbolic meaning, often believed to bring good luck and blessing to the household.

The original design for the present brooch is featured in a surviving album of Henrik Wigström’s drawings (U. Tillander-Godenhielm et al., Golden Years of Fabergé: Drawings and Objects from the Wigström Workshop, Paris, 2000, p. 157).

A similar brooch by Michael Perchin was sold at Christie's, London, 5 June 2017, lot 210. Another comparable brooch is in the India Early Minshall Collection at the Cleveland Museum of Art.