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Lot Essay
The history of electroplating in Russia began with the physicist B.S. Jacoby (1801-1874), who developed the electroplating process in 1838. A special subject on electroplating techniques was then introduced at the Drawing School of the Society for the Advancement of the Arts in 1842 in order to train electroplating specialists.
Special attention was devoted to gilding and silvering techniques to advance the production of furniture, ecclesiastical objects, military paraphernalia and other decorative objects. Electrogilding was also extensively used for monuments and the construction of domes, including St Isaac's Cathedral in St Petersburg and the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow.
While not much is known about Eduard Linden, it appears he was one of the many German craftsmen working in St Petersburg during the period. He was an architect who moved from Berlin to St Petersburg, in order to work on important architectural reliefs (Dr. L. von Schorn, ed., Kunstblatt, 1841, p. 340). Notably his workshop also produced another electroplated roundel offered at Christie's, South Kensington, 7 February 2012, lot 270.
Special attention was devoted to gilding and silvering techniques to advance the production of furniture, ecclesiastical objects, military paraphernalia and other decorative objects. Electrogilding was also extensively used for monuments and the construction of domes, including St Isaac's Cathedral in St Petersburg and the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow.
While not much is known about Eduard Linden, it appears he was one of the many German craftsmen working in St Petersburg during the period. He was an architect who moved from Berlin to St Petersburg, in order to work on important architectural reliefs (Dr. L. von Schorn, ed., Kunstblatt, 1841, p. 340). Notably his workshop also produced another electroplated roundel offered at Christie's, South Kensington, 7 February 2012, lot 270.