ST. PETERSBURG OR KHOLMOGORY, ARCHANGELSK, LATE 18TH CENTURY

Ivory carving from walrus and mammoth tusks has long been a tradition within popular Russian folk art since the Middle Ages, originating in the northern regions but enjoying greater popularity in the second half of the 18th century. Several production centres of ivory carving were known at the time. These included Kholmogory and other villages in Archangelsk Province, Moscow and St. Petersburg. In the second half of the 18th century the best craftsmen migrated to St. Petersburg to practice their skills, producing mostly small items such as caskets, work boxes, toilet boxes and combs. The wealthier clientele also commissioned miniature cabinets, toilet tables and bureaux-cabinets. The Tsars long patronised this specifically Russian craft and numerous pieces are still to be found in Russian museums and Imperial palaces. Carved ivory objects from the Archangelsk province of this highly sophisticated three-dimensional design and large size are unusual. The sophistication of design and dating of this particular mirror, and the following lot in this sale, would suggest that they were made in St. Petersburg.
An almost identical dressing-mirror of the same neo-Classical design was sold anonymously, Christie’s, London, 1 December 2005, lot 175 (£9,600). A related example of neo-Classical design and also with an arched mirror plate, though lacking the Corinthian capitals or overhanging cornice and surmounted by urn finials, was sold from the Safra Collection, Sotheby's, New York, 3 November 2005, lot 586 ($27,000).