The production of objects in silver, both decorative and functional, formed a large part of Fabergé’s output and a lucrative source of income. Such objects ranged from grand surtouts de table (originally used for holding condiments or sweets), dinner services and flatware to more decorative objects. A silver woodcock, similar to this one, is in the State Hermitage collection. In this example, the seated woodcock is naturalistically chased and mounted on a block of marble to form a paperweight. The woodcock forms part of the Duke of Edinburgh’s collection. Silver mark of 88 zolotniks (1908-1917); Fabergé in Cyrillic characters