MARKED P. OVCHINNIKOV WITH THE IMPERIAL WARRANT, MOSCOW, 1889

Details

A Silver-Gilt Punch Set
Marked P. Ovchinnikov with the Imperial warrant, Moscow, 1889
Comprising a bratina, six charki, a ladle and a tray, all decorated in old Russian style; the bratina on a circular speading foot, the body with lobed cartouches repoussé and chased with birds, griffins, a sirin, and stylised scrolling foliage, the rim inscribed in German 'GROSSFUERST u. GROSSFUERSTIN SERGEI von RUSSLAND dem Offiziercorps des Grossherzoglich Hessischen-Artillerie-Regiments No. 25 [Grossherzogliches Artillerie-Corps]/zur Feier seines 100 Jaehrigen Glorreichen Bestehens/6 April/25 Maerz 1890 St. Petersburg'; the tray circular on three ball feet with conforming cartouches alternating with reserves; the charki decorated with lions, hares, birds and sea creatures, the rims with Russian inscriptions; the ladle with raised prow and hook handle, marked under bases and on tray, the ladle marked under bowl
The tray 15 3/8 in. (39.1 cm.) diameter
110 oz. (3,409 gr.)

Provenance

Presented by the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess Sergei Alexandrovich to the officers of an Artillery Regiment of the Grand Duke of Hesse in 1890.
Christie's, Geneva, 12 May 1981, lot 45.
Acquired by the father-in-law of the present owner circa 1990.
Thence by descent within the family.

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price and at 17.5% on the buyer's premium.

Brought to you by

Alexis de Tiesenhausen

Check the condition report or get in touch for additional information about this

atiesenhausen@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2057

If you wish to view the condition report of this lot, please sign in to your account.

View condition report

Lot Essay

The present lot bears an inscription from Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich (1857-1905) and his wife. Grand Duke Sergei was the son of Emperor Alexander II, brother of Emperor Alexander III, and the uncle of Emperor Nicholas II. His wife Grand Duchess Elisabeth Feodorovna (1864-1918), née Princess Elisabeth Alexandra Louise Alice of Hesse and by Rhine, was the elder sister of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. The Grand Duke pursued a military career and in 1886 was appointed Commander of the Preobrazhenskii Life Guard Regiment. In 1891, he became Governor-General of Moscow. He was killed by a terrorist bomb in 1905. His widow entered a convent and was murdered by the Bolsheviks in 1918.

A nearly identical punch set by Ovchinnikov is preserved in the State Historical Museum, Moscow (GIM 97845 OK 15535). See Exhibition Catalogue, Russian Style, Collection of the State Historical Museum, Moscow, 1998, p. 172, No. 412-422, illustrated.

More from Russian Art

View All