PROBABLY KREMLIN WORKSHOPS, MOSCOW, LATE 16TH/ EARLY 17TH CENTURY

Details

A RARE GOLD AND NIELLO DROBNITSA
PROBABLY KREMLIN WORKSHOPS, MOSCOW, LATE 16TH/ EARLY 17TH CENTURY
Rectangular with arched top, finely nielloed with the Annunciation on architectural background, apparently unmarked
2¾ in. (7.1 cm.) high

Provenance

Anonymous sale; Sotheby's, New York, 10-11 June 1985, lot 255.
Acquired at the above by the present owner.

Special notice

These lots have been imported from outside the EU for sale using a Temporary Import regime. Import VAT is payable (at 5%) on the Hammer price. VAT is also payable (at 20%) on the buyer’s Premium on a VAT inclusive basis. When a buyer of such a lot has registered an EU address but wishes to export the lot or complete the import into another EU country, he must advise Christie's immediately after the auction.

Brought to you by

Alexis de Tiesenhausen

atiesenhausen@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2605

Lot Essay

Drobnitsas are small silver or gold plaques, which were used to decorate icon oklads, Bible covers or religious clothing. Often engraved, nielloed or enamelled, they usually depicted the Twelve Great Feasts, including the Annunciation which is reproduced on the present example. For similar drobnitsas on the icon of the Mother of God of Vladimir by the Kremlin workshops dated late 16th century, see L. Pisarskaia, et al. Russkie emali Xl-XIX vv., Moscow, 1974, pp. 50-53.

More from Russian Art

View All