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Faberge Cuckoo Egg
Date: 1900
Height: 8-1/8 inches
Markings: MP (Michael Perchin), crossed anchors, 56
Clock in dull yellow, green and red golds, enamelled opalescent
white and translucent violet on a zig-zag guilloche field, set with
pearls and rose diamonds. The dial, which is encircled by pearls set in
red polished gold, is enamelled with translucent emerald green trefoils,
and the rose diamond numerals are set on pale greenish white opalescent
enamel within opaque white enamel rings. A yellow gold leaf pattern
surrounds the central pivot on which the red gold hands revolve.
The egg is supported on an elaborate base set with three large
rose diamonds by a central shaft and three struts enamelled opalescent
white. When a button at the back of the clock is pressed, the circular
pierced gold grille which surmounts it opens, and a cuckoo, plumed with
natural feathers, set with cabochon ruby eyes, and standing on gold legs,
rises crowning on a gold platform, the beak and wings moving
authentically, until the crowing finished, it descends once again into the egg.
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