Home / Arts and Entertainment / Lost Imperial Russian Guard Figure Sells for $5.2M
Lost Imperial Russian Guard Figure Sells for $5.2M
23 Sep
Summary
- Fabergé hardstone figurine of a Cossack bodyguard sold for $5.2 million.
- The rare 1912 figure was discovered in a New York attic in 2013.
- It was previously owned by industrialist Armand Hammer before disappearing.
A meticulously crafted Fabergé hardstone figurine, dating to 1912, has achieved a remarkable $5.2 million at auction. This detailed portrait depicts Nikolai N. Pustynnikov, a Chamber Cossack serving Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, wife of Emperor Nicholas II. The figurine's journey involved being confiscated after the 1917 Russian Revolution and later sold to American industrialist Armand Hammer.
After its acquisition by Hammer, the Pustynnikov figure was eventually sold to a New York collector in 1934. For decades, its whereabouts remained a mystery until it was rediscovered in 2013 within an attic in Rhinebeck, New York. This significant find, accompanied by documentation, underscored its provenance and importance.
Offered at Stair Galleries, the figurine's estimated value was between $500,000 and $800,000. However, after intense bidding, the final hammer price soared to $5.2 million, setting a new record for a Fabergé hardstone piece at the time. The sale highlighted the immense value placed on rarity, craftsmanship, and a documented link to the Romanov dynasty.
