Vase with flared lip of nephrite, decorated with gold rope border and white guilloché enamel band with gold mounted alternate cabochon moonstones and mauve chalcedony; two nephrite loop handles with white enamel hinges, terminating in enamel and moonstone pendants.

This vase was presented to King Edward VII by his nephew by marriage Tsar Nicholas II when the King visited Reval (now Tallin) in June 1908. The King was accompanied by Queen Alexandra and Princess Victoria, and they departed on the Royal Yacht Victoria and Albert on its maiden voyage, to be met by the Tsar and members of the imperial family on their yachts Standart and Polar Star. The meeting involved diplomatic discussions but was also a family reunion with banquets and balls. The nephrite vase is mounted in silver-gilt and gold with white guilloché enamel, and is set with cabochon moonstones and chalcedony. According to the accounts of the imperial cabinet, it was paid for on 23 May 1908 (2,500 roubles) but was not delivered to the King until November 1908. In return, King Edward VII presented his nephew with a naval sword made by Wilkinson and inscribed For His Imperial Majesty Emperor of All Russia Nicholas II from His Loving Uncle Edward Reval 1908. The sword commemorated the King’s appointment of the Tsar as an admiral of the fleet in the Royal Navy, a compliment which the Tsar returned by according the King a similar honour in the Russian navy. The sword is now in the museum at Tsarskoë Selo, outside St Petersburg.

Mark of Henrik Wigström; silver mark of 88 zolotniks (1896-1908); Fabergé in Cyrillic characters

Text adapted from Fabergé in the Royal Collection