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Lot Essay
Russian folk-tales are regarded as a remnant of the distant past, full of semi-mythical characters. Baba-Iaga, the old woman in so many of these tales, lives on the edge of a forest in a hut with chicken legs, which is often first encountered from the rear, and has to be asked to turn around. The hero of the tales is sometimes anonymous, sometimes Ivan, either a commoner or a prince, who acts charitably towards the usually evil Baba-Iaga, who in turn helps the hero to his goal.
Using the rather unusual cire perdue technique for the execution of a silver item, the above casket is a pure example of the pan-Slavic movement which appeared at the end of the 19th Century in Russia.
For a similar silver item executed by Fabergé using the same technique, see Christie's London, Magnificent Silver and Silver-Gilt, 17 March 1999, lot 8.
Using the rather unusual cire perdue technique for the execution of a silver item, the above casket is a pure example of the pan-Slavic movement which appeared at the end of the 19th Century in Russia.
For a similar silver item executed by Fabergé using the same technique, see Christie's London, Magnificent Silver and Silver-Gilt, 17 March 1999, lot 8.