Miniature grand piano in Louis XVI style, nephrite with mounts of red and green gold, keyboard of opaque black and white enamel; foliate swag mounts around edge of piano; hinged top and flap to keyboard.

Judging by her acquisitions, Queen Mary was particularly fond of Fabergé’s miniature objets de fantasie, which include several examples of miniature furniture in the form of bonbonnières. These objects afforded the craftsman the opportunity to demonstrate skill in applying specialist techniques to replicate the real materials of the full-scale object. This miniature piano of Siberian nephrite is carved and polished to resemble ebonised wood. The lid opens for use as a bonbonnière and the front drops down to reveal the keyboard in gold and enamel, inscribed 'C. Fabergé'. The piano belonged originally to Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna and is clearly seen in one of the display cases in photographs of the exhibition of Fabergé held in St Petersburg in 1902. Queen Mary acquired it between 1922 and 1931.

Mark of Michael Perchin; gold mark of 56 zolotniks (before 1899); enamelled above the keyboard 'C.Fabergé' in Roman letters

Text adapted from Fabergé in the Royal Collection