A Fabergé 20th century silver sugar-tongs, work master Anders Michelsen 1908-1917. Imperial Warrant.

Anders Michelsen was one of Fabergé's more unknown work masters.

Newfound and exciting information on two of Fabergé's workmasters.
Anna Ringe and Anders Mickelson are two silversmiths it has been written very little about in the
more famous Fabergélitterature. The information available has often been directly misleading, the
reason has probably been that the authors of numerous exhibition catalogs and books often
copies each other's information which leads to further misrepresentation. Another reason could
also be that basic research from the more famous Fabergéspecialists have not been done deep
enough for the less productive workmasters.
Anna Ringe had two different combinations of marks: AR squared, or in square + + K. Fabergé
imperial double eagle. She worked in both silver and gold, and with enamel work.
Anders Mickelson had two different combinations of marks: AM in oval or oval-AM in + + K.
Fabergé imperial double eagle. He worked in both silver and gold and jewelery.
Anna Ringe was first recognized as a Fabergé workmaster with the exhibition "Faberge imperial
craftsman and his world", Wilmington, 2000. However, Geza von Habsburg thought that she,
along with Nykänen, Soloviev, Reimer, Thieleman and others belonged to "the lesser Faberge
work masters". Unfortunately, it seems to be the only little interest that von Habsburg had in
Anna ringes work. Although both von Habsburg and Snowman had access to both of her
combinations of marks since the 50's it seems they have not seen the connection between the
different combinations of marks. If this is a lack of interest or a mistake we do not know, they
probably have chosen to focus on the larger and more influential workshops.
Anna Ringe was married to Theodor Ringe, who initially was the proprietor of the workshop
which she later took over at her husband's death. She ran the workshop under her own name
and with her own mark until her death in 1912. During this time, she works also as a workmaster
for Carl Fabergé. Ringes workshop was situated on small Morskaja 12, just a few steps from the
House of Fabergé.
It is with the exhibition in Helsinki 1980 ', and Ulla Tillander-Godenhielm’s research on Anders
Mickelson, that we learn more abot this lesser known workmaster. She expanded his biography
with her book "Fabergé yes male suomalaiset mestarinsa" 2008, pp. 277-278. It is also here that
Mickelson's marks for the first time are published correctly. Previously, his mark has been
wrongly shown by MA in rectangle, although he has been mentioned as one of Fabergé's
workmasters but never with the picture on one of his articles. Mickelson worked for Carl
Fabergé from about 1890 until his death in 1913. Reportedly he bought in 1912, along with
Wassilij, Anna ringes workshop. Surely they were attracted by the workshop's attractive
address close to the House of Fabergé.
It was common that the Fabergé workmasters hallmarks varied with the use of their own initials
and their initials together with K. Fabergé. One can see this with most of Fabergé's
workmasters, although a few chose to mark only with their initials. Unfortunately there is no
known explanation for these different usage of mark, perhaps workmasters only used their own
mark combined with Fabergé when the order came from the Hose of Fabergé. But it is clear that
whatever combination of mark, all of the objects from these workmasters shows the recognition
of the well known Fabergé quality.
It is with great pleasure that Bukowskis in this sale has the unique opportunity to present four
objects by Anna Ringe and Anders Mickelson and there different combinations of marks.