Torah pointer, produced by Henrik Wigström. St. Petersburg, [1884-1899].
Gold; silver; gemstones and pearls (marked at base of cuff with Russian "56" Zolotnik mark [= 14 karat], dating to the late 19th century, and maker's mark, "H.W." in an oval frame = Henrik Wigström).
This high-quality decorative Torah pointer was produced by a distinguished Fabergé workmaster, who supervised the workshop that produced most of the Fabergé eggs in 1904-1917.
Cylindrical shape, tapering towards the bottom edge. The upper edge contains a six-arched crown with a pearl attached to the ring in the center (without chain). The arches of the crown are decorated with minute floral patterns and set with 17 gemstones (one lacking) in black, turquoise, red and orange. The arches include meticulous minute decorations of flowers with leaves. The top of the pointer is decorated with stylized pointed arches with fleurs-de-lis. The bottom part is decorated to match with lengthened pointed arches. The fist and long pointing finger is magnificently designed, with a stylized cuff and golden base. A chain of pearls separates the crown decoration from the upper part of the hand, and another chain is located in the center, between the top and bottom. The gemstones are set between minute silver balls.
Henrik Wigström (1862-1923), born in Finland, arrived in St. Petersburg in 1875. In 1884, he began to work as an assistant to the goldsmith Mikhail Perkhin, at his exclusive Fabergé workshop. After Perkhin's death in 1903, he inherited his workshop and became head workmaster until 1917; the workshops of Perkhin and Wigström produced most of the Fabergé Imperial eggs.
Another Torah pointer by Henrik Wigström (crafted from bone, gold and diamonds) was sold by Parke-Bernet, New York, 30 November 1967, Lot 388 (the Charles A. Feinberg Collection); an additional jeweled Torah pointer from the same period, by Mikhail Perkhin, was sold at Christie's, Amsterdam, 19 December 1990, Lot 180. Aside from these two Torah pointers and the present example, we are unaware of any other Torah pointers produced by the craftsmen of the House of Fabergé, nor are we aware of any other Judaica objects created by the goldsmith Henrik Wigström.
Length: 23 cm. Maximum width: 2.7 cm. Weight: 138 g. Good condition. Some red gemstones lacking and some broken. Gemstone lacking at upper crown ornament. Middle pearl chain somewhat loose. Does not include suspension chain.
