This miniature escritoire/table, in the Louis XVI style is one of two acquired by Queen Mary and shows Michael Perchin’s clever use of gold and enamel. Red guilloché enamel replicates the grain of wood veneer and blue and white enamel imitates inset porcelain plaques. On the lid, mother-of-pearl replicates the writing surface and is engraved at the four corners with the Romanov double-headed eagle. Queen Mary purchased the table from Wartski on 22 November 1947 at a cost of £650.

Mark of Michael Perchin; gold mark of 56 zolotniks (1896-1908); Fabergé in Cyrillic characters

Text adapted from Fabergé in the Royal Collection