Antique Imperial Faberge Julius Rappoport Silver & Niello Chatelaine Watch c1880

Offered for your most serious consideration is a breathtaking, museum-quality imperial presentation chatelaine pocket watch and matching chatelaine set, created for the royal court of Empress Maria Feodorovna (born Princess Dagmar of Denmark, wife of Emperor Alexander III and mother of the last reigning sovereign, Nicholas II). This magnificent ensemble represents the absolute zenith of late 19th-century European court craftsmanship, originating directly from the legendary workshops of the House of Fabergé.

Empress Maria Feodorovna was one of the most influential and stylish figures of her era, and objects commissioned for her personal circle or for royal presentation were executed to uncompromised standards of excellence. The outer pair case of this timepiece was entirely hand-crafted and signed by Julius Rappoport, one of Fabergé’s most celebrated and elite head workmasters. Presentation pieces carrying Rappoport’s personal workshop stamp alongside the official Imperial warrant and Fabergé signature were exclusively reserved for royalty, high-ranking court dignitaries, and members of the imperial family. Surviving in immaculate presentation condition complete with its original niello chatelaine, this set is an investment-grade masterpiece of historical fine art.

The Niello Chatelaine Assembly

• Dimensions: The solid silver chatelaine measures a total length of 15cm, featuring a multi-tiered architectural design designed to be secured securely to a lady’s garment.

• Technique & Artistry: Fashioned from high-grade solid silver, the panels are richly decorated using the traditional imperial niello technique—an intricate process where a black metallic sulfur alloy is fused into engraved silver channels to create striking, high-contrast floral and foliate motifs.

• Suspension: The chatelaine suspends the pocket watch via delicate, matching silver and gold-accented link chains, preserving its complete and original presentation format.

The Pair Case & Dimensions

• Inner Watch Size: The pocket watch itself measures 35mm in diameter.

• Outer Pair Case: The protective outer case measures 38mm, perfectly encasing the watch while displaying continuous niello floral scrollwork that mirrors the design of the chatelaine.

The Enamel Portrait Dial & Hands

• Imperial Miniature: The pristine white enamel dial serves as a canvas for a finely detailed miniature portrait depicting Empress Maria Feodorovna in regal court attire, complete with her characteristic grace and elegance.

• Timekeeping: The portrait is encircled by a classic chapter ring featuring bold black Roman numerals and clean minute indices.

• Hands: Fitted with original, refined gold-tone hands that complement the classical aesthetic of the dial.

The Prestigious Imperial Hallmarks

• Workmaster Mark: Bears the crisp, authentic initials “I.P.” for Julius Rappoport, marking it as a direct product of his premier workshop.

• Silver Purity: Stamped with the traditional high-purity silver standard mark “88” (denoting 88 , equivalent to .916 fine silver).

• Fabergé Signature: Clearly struck with the official Fabergé maker’s mark in Cyrillic (ФАБЕРЖЕ).

• Imperial Warrant: Features the prestigious Imperial Warrant Double-Headed Eagle hallmark, denoting an official direct commission for the royal court.

The Movement

• Mechanics: Housed within the inner case is a fine mechanical cylinder escapement movement, marked “CYLINDRE HUIT RUBIS” (Cylinder 8 Jewels) on the inner protective dust cover.

• Condition: The movement is in perfect working order, running smoothly and keeping accurate time.

Terms of Sale This museum-quality imperial presentation chatelaine set is an exceptional artifact of royal history and is sold exactly as photographed. Please review all high-resolution images carefully, as they form a definitive part of the description.

The watch comes with an APPRAISAL CERTIFICATE FOR $6500

Shipping & Handling:

• Worldwide shipping with full insurance
• Secure professional packaging
• Tracking number provided immediately after dispatch