Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 26050 - Jewellery & Objets de Vertu
Lot: 55

FRIEDRICH KÖCHLI, A GOLD, DIAMOND AND SAPPHIRE PROPELLING PENCIL HOLDER
CIRCA 1895-1908
Set with diamonds and sapphires.
The reeded barrel is decorated with a floral motif set with rose-cut diamonds and sapphire petals, centred by a diamond cluster flowerhead.
Maker's mark 'FK' for Friedrich Köchli
Stamped for 56 zolotnik gold standard
Size/dimensions: 7.50cm long
Gross weight: 11.90g (excluding pencil insert)

All diamonds and sapphires are present, with one diamond possibly replaced. The piece shows light wear and softening to the hallmarks. The slide mechanism is smooth and in working order, and the item is offered in good condition.


Friedrich Köchli was among the most accomplished of the Swiss-born goldsmiths working in Imperial Russia during the late 19th century, operating in the highly competitive and technically sophisticated environment of St. Petersburg’s pre-revolutionary jewellery trade. Although overshadowed in modern collecting history by Carl Fabergé, Köchli belonged to the same elite circle of court jewellers whose work defined the height of Russian imperial decorative arts.



Born in Switzerland in 1838, Köchli established his workshop in St. Petersburg in 1874 at 17 Gorokhovaya Street, where he produced jewels and objets de vertu for the Russian aristocracy and Imperial court. His reputation grew steadily under the reigns of Tsar Alexander III and Nicholas II, culminating in his appointment as a supplier to the Imperial Court and holder of multiple Grand Ducal warrants. By the turn of the century, his firm was recognised as one of the most respected independent workshops in the capital, known for its refined workmanship, inventive design, and the precision of its gem-setting.



Köchli worked within a distinguished group of contemporary St. Petersburg jewellers (including Hahn, Bolin, and Kortmann) who collectively defined the artistic vocabulary of the period. While Fabergé remains the most celebrated name of the era, Köchli’s output demonstrates the same technical sophistication and aesthetic refinement that characterised the highest level of Russian court craftsmanship. His work is increasingly appreciated today as scholarship broadens beyond Fabergé to include his lesser-known but highly skilled contemporaries.




Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Estimate
£1,000 to £1,500

Starting price
£800