A single pansy with bud, enamelled with opaque violet and with a brilliant diamond centre, two nephrite leaves are attached to the green gold stalk, all set in a rock crystal pot.

The pansy was almost as popular as the philadelphus in Russia, flowering in spring and early summer and during the White Nights of high midsummer. This example shows the remarkable skill of the enameller in imitating the papery matt surface of the petals. It is one of three Fabergé pansies in the Royal Collection owned by Queen Alexandra.

Text adapted from Fabergé in the Royal Collection