A Koch Diamond Set Guilloché Enameled Gold-Mounted Silver Frame for the Russian Market. Marked Koch, Frankfurt, ...

Description

A Koch Diamond Set Guilloché Enameled Gold-Mounted Silver Frame for the Russian Market
Marked Koch, Frankfurt, circa 1910
3-3/8 x 2-7/8 x 0-1/4 inches (8.6 x 7.3 x 0.6 cm)
123 grams (3.95 troy ounces)

PROVENANCE:
Baroness Olga Karlovna Mumm von Schwarzenstein, (née von Struve);
Thence by descent;
Acquired directly from the heirs by the current owner.

The firm of Koch was founded in 1879 by Robert Koch at 6 Biebergasse in Frankfurt. Within a few years, he had established himself as one of Germany's foremost jewelers. During the 1880s, the boutique moved to more spacious premises at 56 Haus Zeil, a reflection of the house's rapid success. Its final home, at the corner of Kaiserstrasse and Mainzerstrasse, occupied a building designed by Paul Wallot, the architect of the German Reichstag.

Koch's reputation quickly spread, and he was soon appointed jeweler to nearly all the princely houses of Germany, eventually becoming purveyor to the Kaiser himself, as well as to distinguished clients abroad. To cater to the seasonal migrations of his elite clientele, he also opened a branch in BadenBaden, further securing his position among Europe's leading jewelers.

Koch had important Russian clients, including Empress Alexandra Feodorovna and her sister Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna, and likely fashioned this piece to appeal to his Russian clientèle such as the former owner, Baroness Peter Mumm von Schwarzenstein.

The baroness was born Olga Karlovna von Struve (1879-1939), the daughter of Karl (Kirill Vasilievich) von Struve (1835-1907) a Baltic German Russian nobleman and politician. He served, in turn, as Russian Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Japan, the United States, and the Netherlands. His wife, Olga's mother, was born Maria Nikolaevna Annenkova, daughter of General Nicholas Annenkov and his wife, born Princess Galitzine. Olga Karlovna was related closely to the Orloff, Mestchersky, Galitzine, Balashov, and Schouvaloff families. In 1904, she married Champagne heir Baron Mumm von Schwarzenstein.

The gold mounted silver gilt piece is marked simply "Koch".


Estimate: $4,000 - $6,000.

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