Eastern Europe, Russia, Moscow, Imperial Period, ca. early 20th century CE. A wonderful high-quality gilt silver and cloisonne lidded jar of vibrant hues. The vessel rests on a concave foot that supports a short neck and the octagonal vessel. The vessel has an elongated form and star-shaped rim. The lid has an interior lip that fits perfectly into the mouth of the vessel. The lid is completed by a protruding handle/finial with four granulated balls surmounted on the top. The stunning cloisonne patterns consist of colorful floral and foliate patterns in hues of red, green, pink, white, and yellow on a blue ground. The rim of the lid is stamped with the maker's mark: "5A" for the 5th Artel artisans. An assay mark known as a kokoshnik is also stamped in this area, consisting of a face in profile to the left of "84." This petite vessel is a remarkable piece of artistry and exemplifies the acclaimed Russian silver and cloisonne techniques. Size: 1.375" W x 3.25" H (3.5 cm x 8.3 cm); quality of silver: 91% to 95%; quality of gold gilt: 0.8% to 2.7%; total weight: 48.2 grams

From the mid-19th century to the early 20th, Russian art of all kinds experienced a renaissance that is known as the Silver Age. Russian artisans were inspired by the Gothic, the Moresque, Chinoiserie, the Baroque, the Rococo - all ornate styles, replete with scrolling vines and flourishing arches. They combined this with the bright colors and rich ornamentation of Old Russian applied art to create a unique style. Later Russian artists in the 20th century recreated the styles pioneered by famous Russian silversmith firms like the Grachev Brothers, Ovchinnikov, Kurlyukov, and the most famous - Faberge.

The artels in Imperial Russia were semi-formal co-operatives of artists and craftsmen skilled in different fields. Of these, the gold, silver, and cloisonne artels are the most revered. However, little is known about the approximately 32 Russian artels which specialized in the production of these pieces. Although many workers were employed at the artels, the pieces produced were the opposite of mass production; in fact, the works from the artel "factories" were highly unique objects or pieces of art of very high quality, and the famous Faberge would commission these artels to produce their designs.

Provenance: ex-collection of James Farmer, Maryland, USA, collected from major galleries and auction houses between 1995 and 2005

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#163644

Maker marks clearly stamped on lid rim. Areas of dark patina. Minor nicks to enamel. Great condition.