MAKER'S MARK CYRILLIC 'SB', MOSCOW, 1896

Details

A SILVER-GILT CLOISONNÉ, CHAMPLEVÉ AND EN PLEIN ENAMEL CASKET
MAKER'S MARK CYRILLIC 'SB', MOSCOW, 1896
Rectangular, on four bracket feet, with champlevé enamelled columns to the corners, with two similarly decorated angular swing handles, the raised hinged cover centring a glazed en plein enamel plaque painted after ‘The Russian Bride’s Attire’ by K. Makovsky, enamelled overall with varicolour shaded scrolling floral motifs on dark blue ground, with a key escutcheon, velvet-lined interior, marked under base and feet, also with French import marks; in a fitted silk and velvet-lined wood case
6¼ in. (16 cm.) wide

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

Aleksandra Babenko

ababenko@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2489

Lot Essay

The nineteenth century saw a rebirth of interest in Russia’s artistic heritage. The present casket embodies this distinctive revival of traditional Russian subject matter and technique. This is reflected not only in its magnificent cloisonné and en plein enamel work, but also in the casket's traditional form.

Moscow’s leading silversmiths often drew on Konstantin Makovsky's historical paintings and boyar series as inspiration for their en plein panels. These richly-coloured paintings evoked the romance of medieval Russia. They were a perfect match for enamelled caskets designed in the Pan-Russian style. Konstantin Makovsky’s work The Russian Bride’s Attire from 1887 was the inspiration for the present casket. This painting is part of the collection of the Museum of The Legion of Honor, San Francisco, bequest of M.H. de Young, 53161. Another earlier version of this painting is in the State Museum of History and Art, Serpukhov.

For a further discussion of the topic and comparable examples of enamelled works after Konstantin Makovsky, see Wendy Salmond, et al., Konstantin Makovsky: The Tsar’s Painter in America and Paris, London, 2015, pp. 46-48.

More from Russian Art

View All