Modeled as a swimming fish, polished and carved throughout to imitate scales, the cabochon moonstone eyes set within yellow guilloché enamel bezels, apparently unmarked
6¹⁄₄ in. (15.9 cm.) long

Anonymous sale; Christie’s, New York, 21 October 1993, lot 144.

Exhibition catalogue, Fabergé: Exhibition for the Benefit of the Scholarship Fund of the Cooper-Hewitt Museum, New York, 1983, p. 31, no. 419 (illustrated).
Exhibition catalogue, Japonisme: from Falize to Fabergé, London, 2011, p. 108, no. 190 (illustrated).

New York, A La Vieille Russie, Fabergé: Exhibition for the Benefit of the Scholarship Fund of the Cooper-Hewitt Museum, the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Design, April 22 - May 21, 1983, no. 419.
London, Wartski, Japonisme: From Falize to Fabergé, 10 - 20 May 2011, no. 190.

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Lot Essay

The present lot is a particularly large example of Fabergé hardstone animal models. Carved from a single piece of obsidian, this model of a carp showcases Fabergé's celebrated lapidary work.

When designing models of animals, the firm's designers often drew inspiration from Japanese netsuke. Carl Fabergé himself was an avid collector and kept over 500 netsuke in his flat. The carp (koi) is a particularly significant symbol in Japan; it stands for perseverance and determination, as it swims upstream. The modelling of the present lot bears a resemblance to Meiji bronzes, which served as inspiration for other works by the firm.

A similar and slightly larger model of a carp in nephrite was sold at Christie's, London, 28 November 2016, lot 236.