Artwork Page for Kremlin Tower Clock

Details / Information for Kremlin Tower Clock

Kremlin Tower Clock

c. 1913
maker

House of Fabergé

(Russian, 1842–1918)
Culture
Russia, St. Petersburg
Medium
rhodonite, silver, enamel, emeralds, sapphires
Measurements
Overall: 29 x 14.6 cm (11 7/16 x 5 3/4 in.)
Credit Line
The India Early Minshall Collection 1966.477
Public Domain
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Location
211 Fabergé
Print
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Did You Know?

The Kremlin tower, which this clock resembles, has a secret well and an underground tunnel that leads to the Moscow River.

Description

The use of Russian hardstones in creating precious objects became a hallmark of design from the House of Fabergé. Easily carved, these minerals were sourced largely from the western region surrounding the Ural Mountains. Fabergé's workmasters used colorful stones such as agate, nephrite (jade), lapis lazuli, rock crystal, and rhodonite, seen here in this elaborate table or mantel clock, to create all manner of luxurious accessories. Bright pink rhodonite was among the rarest, and consequently most expensive, specimens used by the House of Fabergé.

This clock resembles the Taynitskaya Tower, the middle tower on the south side of the Kremlin. The House of Fabergé created this work to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty, representing Fabergé's ability to balance the functionality of objects with intricate decorative design.
Clock made mostly of the pink mineral rhodonite resembling a tower with a cube base, into which the circular clock is set, and narrowing to a pyramidal upper half. Silver lions support each corner of this over a rectangular rhodonite base. Silver detailing with floral, geometric and bird patterns surrounds the clock face and wraps in a band around the pyramid. A two-headed, crowned bird inset with an emerald tops the pyramid.

Kremlin Tower Clock

c. 1913

House of Fabergé

(Russian, 1842–1918)
Russia, St. Petersburg

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