Fabergé Friday

Today I guess the need for letter openers isn't so big, since we usually read our mail on computer screens. Once upon a time though, people wrote letters by hand! Imagine that! So here are a few pictures of one of those letter openers people used back in the day - this one conveniently made by Fabergé. I mean, it is Friday after all!

The blade has been carved out of a single piece of Siberian Jade, and the handle - designed like intertwining batwings - is made of gold, set with cabochon moonstones and two cabochon rubies. 

The letter opener is 7 inches (18 centimeters) long, and it was created by workmaster Mikhail Perchin. On 17th December 1899 it was bought by Dowager Tsarina Maria Feodorovna. 

Picture source