Статьи и публикации
16 August 2003
Collecting Russian enamels
THERE are so many specialist areas in the world of antiques that requiredexquisite and delicate workmanship that sometimes it must be difficult for someone intent in forming a collection to decide which field to choose. Probably some collections begin by accident. However, expertise will be built up only over a long period. Outside the world of paintings and books, the field could be some rarity likeChinese snuff bottles, Japanese inro or netsuke, superlative African bronzes, finewatches or clocks, 19 century European and American art glass, or scores of other spheres. One of these specialist fields must be that of Russian enamelling, the technical quality ofwhich reached the supreme achievement of the craft at the turn of the 19/20 centuries. Perhaps the most famous and versatile of all the manufacturers in the Russianenamelling area of that period was Fedor Ruckert. The House of Carl Faberge was supplied by Ruckert and the craftsmen in his workshop. Sometimes the pieces bear both the Ruckert and Faberge marks, while others are engraved with inventory numbers without the Faberge mark. Also, the firm of Faberge produced its own designs for enamel work. Ruckert's contemporaries included Orest Kurliukov, Pavel Ovchinnikov, Andrei Postnikov,Maria Semenova, the firm of Khlebnikov, the Moscow Artels, and others. Each had their own styles. The earliest examples of enamelling in Russia are on religious objects in the Byzantinetradition. These filigree decorated monotone champleve enamels were followed by cloisonne enamel work with floral scrolls on gilt ground used for both religious and secularobjects from differing regions of Russia. With cloisonne the enamel was poured into compartments, or cloisons, formed by a network of metal bands on the surface of the object. The tops of the bands remain exposed dividing one area of colour from another. Cloisonne enamel was very successfully used by Byzantine and Celtic craftsmen. Champleve has enamels poured into grooves engraved on the surface to be decoratedand then polished down to the same level as the surrounding metal. This process was used in Northern Europe from the Iron Age onwards, and also by the ancient Romans, Celts and medieval enamellers. It wasused extensively for Limoges enamels of the 12/14 centuries. During the middle of the 19 century, Russian archaeologists and art historians rediscovered the early Slavic designs with its rich colouring and extensive variety. In the decorative arts, enamel work was ideally suited to expressing this revivalist and conservative movement. During the last twenty years of the 19 century enamel work was popular in Moscow and St Petersburg. Familiar views, and reproductioins of the works of leading artists of thetime, were used in the enamel decoration. These enamels were ideal for diplomatic gifts for important visitors to Russia and such enamels were soon collected in Europe and America where they were sold by Tiffany & Co. in New York.
One of the most popular items produced in enamel is the Russian kovsh. This is a singlehandled oval boat-shaped vessel used for ladling out drinks. At a sale in New York five years ago, a silver gilt cloisonne enamel kovsh made by Fedor Ruckert in 1906 sold for $41,000. Measuring 27.5cm long this kovsh was shaped as astylised bird with the tail as the handle and a bird's head with large beak as the prow.Covered with ornate cloisonne enamel it had four green cabochon stones on the body, one red and two green cabochon stones on the tail, and two red cabochon stones as the eyes. A more traditional enamel kovsh by Fedor Ruckert was made in Moscow, 1908-1917,11.2cm long, and had an oval body, like a boat, with raised prow and ropework circles,blue petals, zigzag border, and triangles. It fetched $4,000. Sometimes a kovsh may be shaped as a duck, like a very fine example by Maria Semenova, Moscow, 1896-1908, which sold for $45,000. Two cloisonne kovshes shaped as sea-horses and marked Khlebnikov with the Imperial warrant, Moscow, 1908-1917, realised $8,000 each. Other designs include roosters, cockerels, and peacocks. Metalobjects decorated with Russian enamels at the turn of the 19/20 centuries included bowls, 3-piece tea sets, vases, goblets, vesta cases, spoons, cigar boxes, cigarette cases, patchboxes, scent boxes, and caskets. Other items included letter holders, tankards, vodka flasks with cups, tazzas, tea caddies,photograph frames, tea glass holders, cake dishes, easter eggs, card cases, cakebaskets, trays, salt cellars, and inkwells. So the range was wide and ideal for giving as expensive and personalised gifts. Some pieces can make particularly large sums of money at auction. A large oblong silvergilt cloisonne and en plein enamel jewel casket, 25.3cm long, by Fred Ruckert sold for$170,000; a silver gilt cloisonne enamel punch set, the tray 40cm diameter, by OrestKurliukov, $60,000; and a silver gilt cloisonne and en plein enamel casket, 22cm long, by the firm of Khlebnikov, $55,000. An object is said to be decorated with en pleinenamelling if the enamel has been applied to its surface and not to plaques attached to the surface.
[UKIR [UK & Ireland Intelligence Wire]]
[UKIR [UK & Ireland Intelligence Wire]]