LOT 84  SAMUEL ARNDT, A GOLD, BAROQUE PEARL, RUBY AND AGATE LETTER OPENER  

SAMUEL ARNDT, A GOLD, BAROQUE PEARL, RUBY AND AGATE LETTER OPENER CIRCA 1860 The handle depicting Ae...

SAMUEL ARNDT, A GOLD, BAROQUE PEARL, RUBY AND AGATE LETTER OPENER CIRCA 1860 The handle depicting Aesop's fable of the Fox and the Grapes, the baroque pearl forming the handle within a chased and engraved gold vine mount, green enamelled vine leaves, suspending a bunch of cabochon ruby grapes high above a prowling fox, maker's mark S.A and further obscured mark, to a later moss agate blade; with modern associated fossilised wood base, entwinned with chased vines creating a holder for the blade, with a watching hound, under the base are two hidden woodlice, appears unmarked Size/dimensions: letter opener 17.5cm long; base 14.5cm highGross weight: 64 grams; base 1170.5 gramsProvenance:Private CollectionPurchased from SJ Phillips, November 2006Samuel Arndt was one of Fabergé's main competitors. A master craftsman working between 1845 and 1890, who was renowned for his guilloché enamel and second Empire style pieces.