By including moss agate in mounted jewellery and boxes, Fabergé was continuing a long tradition. Originally mined in India, these agates were known as mocha stones after the town on the Red Sea from which they were imported to Europe. The term ‘moss’ agate came about because deposits of ferrous and manganese oxides infiltrated the stone, thereby forming dendritic or tree- and moss-like patterns. In the eighteenth century moss agate was discovered in Germany and it became much sought after in Europe, both for collectors of natural history specimens and for incorporating into snuff boxes and jewellery. Fabergé’s source of the material was Siberia. His craftsmen also produced enamel with patterns simulating moss agate.

Mark of Henrik Wigström; gold mark of 72 zolotniks (1908-17); Fabergé in Cyrillic characters; English import marks for 1911-12

Text adapted from Fabergé in the Royal Collection