Imperial Russia Fake faberge badge

[GeorgeCL]

Heres an ODD piece on ebay now..

George

[GeorgeCL]

besides the incorrect enamel color, should be dark red. And the lake of quality. What do you guys think.

George

[Ramblinfarms]

It looks cast. I would think that any badge made by Faberge should border on "sublime" as far as quality. What is this supposed to be, George?

Edited July 26, 2006 by Ramblinfarms

[GeorgeCL]

I'm guessing its susposed to represent this badge..but as a neck order?

Didnt notice the swords are also upsidedown.

George

[Chuck In Oregon]

Do you really think that is correctly identified? How did the seller describe it on E?

I saw this the first time I went through the recent posts after my absence. It never occurred to me that "Hey, I've got that badge." I guess because it's blue with upside-down swords and hangs from a ribbon. But other than that ...

Then when George posted the reference page, well, I couldn't believe it. Really, I still can't. I keep telling myself that it must be something other than an Alexeevsky Military School badge.

I do have one of those and here it is. Well, it's a Transition Government version without crowns. Maybe they were just cut off as an expedient, of course. And it's bronze, not gold, but you might expect that from a late-era example. This one isn't pristine, as you can see, but I think it's a real good example. And at least it's not blue. OTOH, I'm willing to learn and be shown if someone can pin this down. Everyone here knows just how wrong I can be.

Note that the screwback is numbered and bears a Petrograd master's mark. Of course, I don't know if this is the original screwback or not, but I still like the badge a lot.

Chuck

Edited July 26, 2006 by Chuck In Oregon

[Pete A]

Here's the full link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Russian-Order-FABERGE_...1QQcmdZViewItem

The seller says nothing about the size, so it might be more of a unofficial jeton than a neck badge? To me this looks like something that an attending cadet might have come up, to show where he's studying. "Be true to your school" - sort of thing? After all, the official badge wasn't received until graduation.

But the one thing that really bothers me with this badge, is why on earth would a high quality maker like Faberge put their stamps so crudely on the front of the badge?, instead of the empty reverse where it would be more appropriate?

Pete

Edited July 26, 2006 by Pete A

[REGAL UNIFORMA COLECTOR]

Here's the full link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Russian-Order-FABERGE_...1QQcmdZViewItem

The seller says nothing about the size, so it might be more of a unofficial jeton than a neck badge? To me this looks like something that an attending cadet might have come up, to show where he's studying. "Be true to your school" - sort of thing? After all, the official badge wasn't received until graduation.

But the one thing that really bothers me with this badge, is why on earth would a high quality maker like Faberge put their stamps so crudely on the front of the badge?, instead of the empty reverse where it would be more appropriate?

Pete

The Farberge metal stamps have been available in Russia for several years now. Anyone can obtain these stamps. What is really tricky is that dealers are stamping original silver antiques and increasing the value 10 fold by just adding the Farberge stamp.

[Bob Hunter]

It's nice to know he did something besides Easter eggs.

[Ramblinfarms]

It's nice to know he did something besides Easter eggs.

I heard he did a vase or two.

[totheboss]

I heard he did a vase or two.

Like George I'm sorry to say that I have my doubts about it being a Faberge piece here is a Faberge that I have in my collection.

As you can see the stamped marks are very clean and clear also the badge in question has the a Silversmith stamp with what looks like F K but it's not in the cyrillic alphabet F K was for Hans Fririch Knauff and I don't think he work for Faberge who used the cyrillic alphabet to mark his work also I cannot see any number itched on the back as each piece was number and recorded.

just my thoughts.

Cheers Gentlemen

Alex

[REGAL UNIFORMA COLECTOR]

Like George I'm sorry to say that I have my doubts about it being a Faberge piece here is a Faberge that I have in my collection.

As you can see the stamped marks are very clean and clear also the badge in question has the a Silversmith stamp with what looks like F K but it's not in the cyrillic alphabet F K was for Hans Fririch Knauff and I don't think he work for Faberge who used the cyrillic alphabet to mark his work also I cannot see any number itched on the back as each piece was number and recorded.

just my thoughts.

Cheers Gentlemen

Alex

First - The Farberge stamp is applied to an already exisiting piece to up the value of the piece. Collectors tend to get all bug eyed and salivate when they see something stamped Farberge and it clouds there gut instinct and judgement.

Second - Look at the stamp itself. Inside the indentation and around the letters, it is not clean. Fuzzy and textured. A pebble look with excess balls of metal slag residue which the faker can not clean up when buffed and polished. That means that this badge is a cast badge. Certainly a fake.

Edited August 3, 2006 by REGAL UNIFORMA COLECTOR