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Lot Essay
One of about 50 individual hardstone figures of 'Russian and English types' which Franz Birbaum in his memoirs regards as "the most remarkable stone creations", and where he makes special mention of the modeller Georgii Konstantinovich Savitskii as the artist of some of these figures.
This is the second largest of the hardstone figurines (exceeded only by that of the Cherkess), the kvass-seller was an easily recognised Russian vendor seen in all major Russian cities in summer. Kvass is a refreshing drink traditionally made from malt, rye flour, sugar and mint, but also made with fruits such as apples, lemons, cranberries etc. The figure follows the tradition of the porcelain factories of the late 18th and 19th centuries, which in turn were inspired by the publication of J.G. Georgi's work Description de toutes les Nations de l'Empire de Russie' in St. Petersburg in 1776-1777, and later of Collection de Cris et Costumes de Paysan et Paysannes de St. Petersbourg by A.O. Orlovskii in 1825.
Birbaum emphasises the craftsmanship of Savitskii and lists this figure in his memoirs commenting on its workmanship, 'The last-named figurines are executed after models by Georgii Savitskii which bears witness to his natural sensitivity and powers of observation'. Each stone is carefully chosen, especially here with the use of different forms of quartz, and delicately carved to represent the naturalistic elements, from the flesh to the cloth and the partially filled jug.
Georgii Konstantinovich Savitskii (1887-1947) had graduated from the Academy of Arts, later becoming a professor and academician. For Faberg he was both a designer carrying out individual commissions as well as the talented carver in hardstones so admired by Birbaum, who states that his other figures were a Tatar street-pedlar, the reserve soldier of 1914 and an ice-carrier. Valentin Skurlov, co-author with T.F. Faberg and A.S. Gorynia of Faberg and the Petersburg Jewellers, (St. Petersburg, 1997) stresses the individuality of each of the carved figures, which is particularly evident in the street-wise expression of the young street-peddler.
Emanuel Nobel (1859-1932) was one of the most powerful industrialists and oil magnates in Russia, as well as one of Faberg's most important private clients. The year before the revolution, the Nobel Company produced one third of all Russian crude oil and 40 of all refined oil products and 75 of the domestic demand. The Nobel Company also owned one of the largest private tanker fleets in the world.
This is the second largest of the hardstone figurines (exceeded only by that of the Cherkess), the kvass-seller was an easily recognised Russian vendor seen in all major Russian cities in summer. Kvass is a refreshing drink traditionally made from malt, rye flour, sugar and mint, but also made with fruits such as apples, lemons, cranberries etc. The figure follows the tradition of the porcelain factories of the late 18th and 19th centuries, which in turn were inspired by the publication of J.G. Georgi's work Description de toutes les Nations de l'Empire de Russie' in St. Petersburg in 1776-1777, and later of Collection de Cris et Costumes de Paysan et Paysannes de St. Petersbourg by A.O. Orlovskii in 1825.
Birbaum emphasises the craftsmanship of Savitskii and lists this figure in his memoirs commenting on its workmanship, 'The last-named figurines are executed after models by Georgii Savitskii which bears witness to his natural sensitivity and powers of observation'. Each stone is carefully chosen, especially here with the use of different forms of quartz, and delicately carved to represent the naturalistic elements, from the flesh to the cloth and the partially filled jug.
Georgii Konstantinovich Savitskii (1887-1947) had graduated from the Academy of Arts, later becoming a professor and academician. For Faberg he was both a designer carrying out individual commissions as well as the talented carver in hardstones so admired by Birbaum, who states that his other figures were a Tatar street-pedlar, the reserve soldier of 1914 and an ice-carrier. Valentin Skurlov, co-author with T.F. Faberg and A.S. Gorynia of Faberg and the Petersburg Jewellers, (St. Petersburg, 1997) stresses the individuality of each of the carved figures, which is particularly evident in the street-wise expression of the young street-peddler.
Emanuel Nobel (1859-1932) was one of the most powerful industrialists and oil magnates in Russia, as well as one of Faberg's most important private clients. The year before the revolution, the Nobel Company produced one third of all Russian crude oil and 40 of all refined oil products and 75 of the domestic demand. The Nobel Company also owned one of the largest private tanker fleets in the world.