A 15th Century Ruby Buddha, encased in gold and rubies by Cartier, Formerly in the Collection of Prince Felix Youssoupov. Exiled from Russia after the Revolution in 1917, Prince Felix Youssoupov, a scion of Imperial Russia’s wealthiest family, was hurriedly able to retrieve a sliver of his spectacular collection of jewels and precious objects, including this Buddha, from his grand Moika Palace. The hope was that this small group would help sustain what his family thought would be a brief exile. As years passed, and a return to Russia seemed less likely, Youssoupov started to sell his treasures through Cartier, who served as broker. In the mid 1920s, the Prince brought some of his loose gems and objects to Cartier, who was asked to create jeweled cases in which they could be displayed. Cartier was inspired by the Russian jeweler Faberge’s famed methods of encasing ancient sculptures within simple glass and gold cases. Befitting its importance, the Buddha was set upon a jade plinth, and then placed within a glass and gold case, measuring 17 inches high, and studded with cabochon rubies. A gold plaque at the center denotes it’s impeccable provenance: “Ruby Buddha, 15th Century, Formerly the Property of The Emperor of China, Collection of the Summer Palace, Collection of Prince Youssoupoff”.