Faberge Rare Bronze Imperial Russian Cossack Guard Antique Gold Gilt Enamel 1912

1912 Faberge Rare Bronze Imperial Russian Cossack Guard Antique Gold Gilt Enamel 39cm. Here are a pair of truly fabulous Faberge Cossack bodyguards, large size. These are an exceedingly rare and important pair of bronze figures of A. N Pustynnikov, personal Kemer-Kazak bodyguards of Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. They are in dress parade uniform with badges and medals, the coats trimmed with Imperial eagles and hats with gold braid.

These are a much rarer larger size than you would normally find and are approximately 39 cm high and each figure weighs approx. The condition is good with some expected minor paint loss, but nothing serious. The precise origin of these figures, which are copies of the well-known Fabergé hardstone figures of the Kamer-Kazak guards of the Empresses is something of a mystery.

Commissioned by Emperor Nicholas II in 1912, the hardstone figures were portraits from life, the guards visiting the studio of Fabergé's sculptor Boris Frödman-Cluzel to pose for the artist, who modelled them in wax. The original figure of Kudinov remains at the State Pavlovsk Museum inv. These bronze figures may have been produced as. Further models, in addition to those in wax, perhaps so that the colour palette could be settled upon, bronze being easier to paint than wax. Fabergé's close affiliation with the Woerffel lapidary and bronze foundry would have easily facilitated this extra step in the process. The figures are absolutely superb.

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