A Russian Silver Table-Lighter in the Form of an Indian Elephant, by Fabergé, With Imperial Warrant, St Petersburg, 1899-1908, Workmaster Julius Alexander Rappoport, With Scratched Inventory Number realistically modelled and depicted standing with one rear leg raised as if walking, with an overall textured finish, the head hinged to reveal the compartment for fluid, the trunk hollow to accommodate a wick11.5cm wide, 7cm high, 10oz 16dwt, 337grProvenance:By family tradition purchased by Stanley Elliott (1892-1956) and by descent.Stanley Elliott (1892-1956) was born into a life of comfort in Grange Moor, near Wakefield, in West Yorkshire. His father, Benjamin, carried on the business of Lockwood and Elliott which had been founded by his father (Stanley’s grandfather) George, in the middle of the 19th century. The company was involved in coal mining, most notably the Shuttle Eye colliery, which was opened around 1862 on the site of an older smaller operation. Shuttle Eye had two shafts, and at the peak of its operation under the ownership of Lockwood and Elliott, a staff of nearly 200 men. In the 20th century, by this time under the control of Benjamin’s sons Stanley, George and Ralph the firm became Elliott’s Collieries Ltd. and added other mines, such as Lepton Edge and Gregory Spring to its portfolio. Besides coal mining, the family had interests in businesses as varied as the manufacture of bricks and gravel works. Stanley and his brother George also owned between them some 123 houses.Sadly few invoices for the works of art and chattels purchased by Stanley have been retained in the family archives. The family history however recalls him as a well-travelled man who enjoyed visiting salerooms to acquire items to fill Ingle Court, the house he had built for himself in Lepton near Huddersfield in 1932. Equally the presence of 20th century dealers' inventory numbers, minutely engraved under one foot, suggests the possibility that he may have purchased the table-lighter directly from a dealer rather than at auction. One invoice that does exist, dated 2nd May 1935, from Old Russia Antiques and Jewellery Limited, 1177 St Catherine Street West, Montreal suggests the latter as a strong possibility and reveals Stanley as, at least a minor, Russophile. Either way, he was a lifelong smoker of a pipe and cigars, so he was likely attracted to the lighter both as a charming object and something that he could use. Another invoice records the purchase of a Triumph Dolomite Saloon car in ‘mistletoe green’ which was purchased on 25 November 1937 for £310 19s 3p, the equivalent of around seven months' salary for a skilled tradesman at the time.Fabergé produced a menagerie of zoomorphic table-lighters, often made by his workmaster Julius Alexander Rappoport, as with the present example. They obviously had a great appeal to the royal families of Europe as there are many examples with a royal provenance known, for example, one in the form of a chimpanzee which was sold from the collection of S.A.R. La Principessa Reale Maria Gabriella di Savoia (Christie's, London, 27 June 2007, lot 19) and another in the form of a frog which was previously owned by Queen Anne of Romania (Christie's, London, 4 June 2018, lot 235). While these table-lighters were made in the form of many different animals, including a rhinoceros, a lizard and a fish, the elephant was a theme that Fabergé was to return to time and again. They are depicted in many different poses, from seated with the wick emerging from the top of the head to seated, as if begging, with the wick contained in the trunk, as in the present example.Marked on tail with Cyrillic Fabergé mark below royal warrant, workmasters mark and Kokoshnik mark. One ear further marked with workmasters mark and 88 standard mark. Engraved under one back foot with scratched inventory number, possibly '13155'. Other feet with later dealers scratched inventory numbers. There is some overall surface scratching and wear, consistent with age and use. The wear is noticeable as a softening to the high points. There are some minor bruises.
