Faberge Diamond and 14 Karat Gold Enameled Handle and Macassar Parasol. The exquisite green guilloche enamel, 14 karat gold and diamond parasol handle was made by Michael Evlampievitch Perchin the most famous of Faberge's workmasters, responsible for the crafting of the imperial Easter eggs from 1886 until 1903. The guilloche enamel handle is set with a single .25 carat diamond and is mounted with 14 karat gold. It is hallmarked Faberge and also marked with Michael Perchin's hallmark and another hallmark that is indiscernible. The parasol was made in France and is marked Mon Lafarge. The embroidered silk material has some splits from age. Two thirds of the shaft are made of Ash or Hickory. The bottom third of the shaft (that attaches to the handle), is made of Macassar ebony. Included with the parasol is a custom fitted velvet-lined Faberge grey suede case. In good condition. The handle measures 1 1/2" high x 1" diameter, the entire parasol measures 39 1/2" long.

The Faberge handle was presented by Russian Czar Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra to Ethan A. Hitchcock (1835-1909), American Ambassador to Russia and Secretary of the Interior under President Theodore Roosevelt. The Faberge handle descended in the Hitchcock family to their daughter Anne E. Hitchcock (pictured in photograph being presented to the Russian Czarina in 1897). Anne later married William Sowden Sims (1858-1936) who commanded all United States naval forces during World War I and whom also won the Pulitzer Prize for History in 1921.

Ethan Hitchcock was in his sixties when President McKinley appointed him Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Russia in 1897 and in February 1898 Ambassador Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, the first Ambassador accredited from the United States to the court of Russia. The signed photographs of Russian Czar Nicholas II and Empress Alexander (of the imperial Romanov family) being offered, also descended from the Ethan A. Hitchcock family. Scans from photographs of Anne Hitchcock and her husband Admiral Sims are included from the book "Admiral Sims and the Modern American Navy" by Elting E. Morrison. Scans of then Lieutenant Sims 1896 international passport with Russian stamps are also included.