GENEVA.- An exceptional discovery will come under the hammer at Piguet in Geneva on 9 December: the largest Fabergé elephant known to date, an imperial gift dating from the early 20th century. Crafted in hardstone in 1900 on commission from the Russian Imperial Family, this unique piece was presented to James Gordon Bennett Jr., the American press magnate and owner of the New York Herald, most likely through Grand Duke Alexei, brother of Tsar Alexander III.
Preserved within the Reuter–Gordon Bennett family for more than 120 years, this imperial elephant will make its first appearance on the art market, marking a world first at Piguet, during a landmark evening auction on Wednesday, 9 December, at 6 p.m. (estimate: CHF 200,000–300,000).
"This is a discovery of exceptional rarity. As a specialist in Russian works of art, it has been a true privilege to study and authenticate this unique piece, and an honour to have been entrusted with it by the heirs of the Reuter–Gordon Bennett family," says Christina Robinson, Head of the Russian Works of Art Department and auctioneer at Piguet.
An unexpected discovery in a Geneva apartment
It is in the Geneva apartment of the heirs of the de Reuter and Gordon Bennett families that Christina Robinson discovers this extraordinary elephant. The exceptional quality of its bowenite carving - a stone renowned for its toughness, which requires considerable technical skill to work - together with the exquisite detail and the brilliance of its translucent red enamel, immediately catches her attention. These distinctive features are characteristic of the craftsmanship of the prestigious Fabergé house. Research carried out with the support of the Carl Fabergé Foundation confirms the attribution and brings to light the history of this remarkable piece, which had remained unknown for more than a century.
"Gordie", the largest Fabergé Elephant known in the World
The depiction of the elephant holds particular significance within the Russian Imperial Family. Empress Maria Feodorovna, born Princess Dagmar of Denmark, was the daughter of King Christian IX, sovereign of a kingdom whose highest order of chivalry, the Order of the Elephant, is represented by this very animal. Until now, only two Fabergé elephants had been recorded: one carved from bowenite and the other from nephrite.
Named "Gordie" by the Carl Fabergé Foundation, in reference to Gordon Bennett, this newly discovered and unique example stands out for its exceptional dimensions, measuring 28.5 cm in height, making it the largest known Fabergé elephant in the world.
An Imperial gift with an extraordinary history
At the Romanov court, imperial gifts could express personal gratitude, honour services rendered or serve as tokens of diplomatic relations. According to research conducted by the Carl Fabergé Foundation, "Gordie" was commissioned by the Russian Imperial Family in 1900 and most likely presented by Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich of Russia to James Gordon Bennett Jr., offering a fascinating illustration of the connections between the international elite of the Belle Époque and Imperial Russia.
James Gordon Bennett Jr., a Press Magnate with Ties to Imperial Russia
A flamboyant and extravagant figure of the Belle Époque, James Gordon Bennett Jr. (1841–1918), owner of the prestigious New York Herald, moved in the most influential circles of international society. A visionary entrepreneur with a passion for sport and sailing, he established the famous Gordon Bennett Cups, making a significant contribution to the development of both the automobile and aviation industries.
His taste for luxury was reflected in his villas and, above all, in his sumptuous yachts, veritable floating palaces where he entertained members of the aristocratic and social elite, including Empress Eugénie, the Duke of Orléans, Grand Duke Alexei and Winston Churchill, among others. His yacht Lysistrata, completed in 1901, epitomised his extravagance. Equipped with a Turkish bath and sculptures of owls — his favourite animal — whose eyes were illuminated by electric lights, it is even said to have accommodated a cow to provide its owner with fresh milk, as well as a motor car for his journeys ashore during port calls.
James Gordon Bennett Jr.'s ties to the Imperial Family date back, in particular, to 1871, during Grand Duke Alexei's official visit to the United States. Always on the lookout for an exclusive story, the press magnate dispatched a vessel to meet the Russian frigate Svetlana, enabling the New York Herald to report the prince's arrival ahead of its competitors. A few weeks later, Gordon Bennett personally welcomed the Grand Duke at a lavish banquet held at New York's renowned Delmonico's restaurant.
In 1881, following the disastrous Arctic expedition of the Jeannette, which had been financed by Gordon Bennett, Tsar Alexander III personally ordered assistance to be sent to the survivors. Finally, in 1916, Gordon Bennett sold his yacht Lysistrata to the Russian Imperial Navy, which converted it into a military vessel. It was against this backdrop of close ties with Imperial Russia that James Gordon Bennett Jr. received an exceptional gift, crafted by the prestigious Fabergé house.
