Catalogue

Ovchinnikov. A Russian Silver-Gilt and Cloisonné Enamel Travel Icon of St. Vladimir
Maker’s mark “PO”. Moscow, 1899–1908
Silver (84 zolotniks), gilt, cloisonné enamel, polychrome en-plein enamel
Dimensions (with hanger): 10 × 6.3 cm
Weight: 84 g

This finely crafted travel icon depicts St. Vladimir, the Baptizer of Rus’, rendered in enoplein polychrome enamels within an ornate silver-gilt frame. The saint is shown crowned, holding a red cross in his right hand and a sword in his left, symbolizing both his royal authority and his spiritual mission. Above, on the suspension loop, appears the Mandylion—the image of Christ.

The piece was made by the celebrated Moscow workshop of Pavel Akimovich Ovchinnikov, one of the leading jewelers of the Russian Empire. Founded in 1853, Ovchinnikov’s firm was the first in Russia to produce works in the Old Russian style, reviving medieval decorative traditions through cloisonné enamel and filigree.

Renowned for its exceptional craftsmanship and artistry, the Ovchinnikov factory collaborated with prominent Russian artists and architects such as Ippolit Monighetti, Alexander Opekushin, Eugene Lanceray, and Viktor Vasnetsov. The firm supplied the Imperial Court and the Orthodox Church with liturgical items, including altar Gospels, processional crosses, icon covers, chalices, and censers, achieving the highest artistic standards of its time.

Comparable examples:

Sotheby’s, Russian Works of Art, Fabergé & Icons, London, June 2014, lot 507
https://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2014/russian-works-art-faberge-icons-l14116/lot.507.html
Christie’s, Russian Works of Art, Fabergé and Icons, London, November 2014, lot 38 https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5896351

Starting price: 6000€
Estimate: 7000-9000€
Hammer Price: UNSOLD€

A Russian Silver Tea Service in the Original Fitted Wood Case
Maker’s mark of Pavel Ovchinnikov with Imperial Warrant
St. Petersburg, 1895
Total silver weight: 1302 g
Height of teapot: 14 cm
Dimensions of the box: 30.5 × 50.5 × 14 cm

Comprising a teapot, sugar bowl, cream jug, tea strainer, sugar tongs, and twelve spoons, all finely crafted in silver and preserved in the original velvet-lined wooden traveling case, the interior of the lid stamped in gilt with the Imperial double-headed eagle and the Cyrillic inscription Iz magazina fabrikanta P. Ovchinnikova (“From the shop of the manufacturer P. Ovchinnikov”).

Pavel Akimovich Ovchinnikov (1830–1888) was one of the most distinguished Russian silversmiths and enamel artists of the nineteenth century. Born a serf, he trained in Moscow and, after purchasing his freedom in 1850, founded his own workshop in 1851. By the 1860s, his factory had become one of the largest in Russia, employing over a hundred craftsmen and gaining recognition as the leading innovator of the Neo-Russian style.

Appointed official supplier to the Imperial Court in 1865, Ovchinnikov mastered and revived ancient Russian techniques in silver creations, often decorated with folkloric motifs, became symbols of Russian national identity and artistic revival.

Today, works by Ovchinnikov are represented in the State Hermitage Museum, the State Historical Museum, and the Russian Museum, as well as in major private collections worldwide.

Starting price: 5000€
Estimate: 6000-8000€
Hammer Price: €

A Fabergé Silver Neoclassical Vase
Moscow, firm of Karl Fabergé, 1899-1908.
Silver, gilding; casting, chasing, engraving.
Dimensions: 13 × 11.5 cm.
Total weight: 328 g.
Marks: firm mark К. ФАБЕРЖЕ beneath the Imperial warrant; Moscow assay mark; 84 zolotniki silver standard.
A refined Fabergé silver vase in the Neoclassical taste, formed as a shallow circular bowl raised on an architectural tripod support. The plain, gently rounded upper bowl has a softly gilded interior and is bordered by a fine beaded rim. Its restrained surface contrasts with the elaborately worked stem and base, where curved supports are enriched with laurel garlands, palmettes, Greek-key ornament and delicate engraved foliage.
The three supports terminate in lion-paw feet, a classical motif that gives the object a ceremonial and sculptural presence.
The Moscow branch of Fabergé was especially renowned for silver objects, tableware and decorative works in historical and national styles. Unlike the more discreet St Petersburg establishment, the Moscow branch responded to the taste of a wealthy merchant and cosmopolitan clientele, producing objects that combined technical refinement with visual richness. By the turn of the century, Fabergé’s Moscow factory had become one of the largest jewellery and silver workshops in the Russian Empire.

Starting price: 3000€
Estimate: 3500-4500€
Hammer Price: €

Khlebnikov. Russian icon of Saint Panteleimon in Neo-byzantine style
Silver, cloisonné enamel.
Makers mark of «I.KH» with Imperial warrant. Moscow, the end of the 19th century.
Silver, cloisonné enamel (Byzantine technique)

Dimensions: 10 x 8.7 x 0.3 cm.
Total weight: 70.2 g.
This icon is executed in the Byzantine enamel technique, distinguished by bright polychrome en plein surfaces, deep translucence, and precise detail. The Saint is depicted frontally, holding in the left hand a casket with medicines that resemble miraculous relics is usually depicted. The figure is adorned in richly coloured vestments with enamel in palette of yellow, blue, green, and red, framed by a finely worked nimbus with stylised spiral ornament.
The Khlebnikov firm, founded in Moscow in 1867, was one of the foremost Russian producers of silver and enamelware in the late Imperial period. Known as Supplier to the Imperial Court, the workshop gained renown for reviving and modernising ancient Russian and Byzantine decorative traditions. Its masters excelled in cloisonné enamel, producing icons, liturgical objects, tableware, and presentation pieces, many of which were exhibited at international exhibitions and awarded highest prizes.
This plaque exemplifies Khlebnikov’s interpretation of Byzantine heritage, combining medieval artistic vocabulary with the technical perfection and luxurious materials typical of Russian decorative arts at the turn of the century.

Starting price: 600€
Estimate: 800-1200€
Hammer Price: 600€

Icon “Mother of God of Chernigov”
Russia, late 19th century
Oil on panel, silver, gilding, enamel
Educational workshop of Pavel Ovchinnikov Factory (?), Moscow
Dimensions: 9.5 × 6.8 cm

This small travel icon depicts the Mother of God of Chernigov holding the Christ Child. The icon is enclosed in a finely crafted silver-gilt frame richly decorated with champlevé enamel in the traditional 17th-century Russian style. The reverse side features a delicate floral ornament in multicolored enamel, characteristic of the ornamental motifs revived by the Ovchinnikov workshop in the late 19th century.

The Pavel Ovchinnikov firm, founded in 1853, was one of the leading jewelry and silversmithing houses of Imperial Russia. Known for its mastery of cloisonné and champlevé enamel, the factory was the first to systematically revive ancient Russian decorative traditions. Under Ovchinnikov’s direction, the workshop became a center for artistic excellence, training craftsmen and collaborating with leading artists and architects of the time.

Starting price: 2500€
Estimate: 3000-3500€
Hammer Price: UNSOLD€

Faberge. A Rare Russian kovsh in historism style. Silver, chasing, gilding, cloisonné enamel, purpurine. Makers mark of «K. Faberge» with Imperial warrant. Moscow, 1898-1908. Of traditional boat-shaped form (ladya) with a handle, the exterior decorated with a frieze of opaque cloisonné enamel in tones of blue, green, and orange against a gilded ground. At the turn of the 20th century, Moscow branch of Fabergé firm embraced the Russian Revival, creating kovshi, cups, icon covers, and tableware inspired by medieval and folk traditions. Silver with filigree, en-plein and polychrome enamels reproduced stylized plant and geometric motifs reminiscent of embroidery and woodcarving. These pieces combined national forms with refined craftsmanship, appealing to the Imperial court and aristocracy. Comparable high-quality silver and enamel kovshes s have been offered at major auctions—see for example a related work in the 2013 Sotheby’s Russian Works of Art & Silver sale, lot 82, and a later example in Sotheby’s 2007 Russian Art sale, lot 570. Dimensions: 10.5 x 7.5 x 7.5 cm. Total weight: 131.2 g.

Starting price: 5000€
Estimate: 6000-8000€
Hammer Price: €

Icon “Mother of God of Kazan”
Solvychegodsk (Usolye), Northern Russia, 18th century (?).
Wood, tempera, enamel, silver filigree, pearls.
Dimensions: 8 × 7 cm

This small icon of the Mother of God of Kazan reflects the rich enamel and filigree tradition of Solvychegodsk (Usolye), a renowned center of northern Russian craftsmanship. The image of the Virgin and Child is framed by delicate silver filigree ornamentation, accented with turquoise and white enamel and pearls at the corners.

The Usolye enameling school, which flourished from the sixteenth through the eighteenth centuries, was founded by Novgorod craftsmen under the patronage of the powerful Stroganov family. Its masters perfected the art of painted enamel on copper, applying vibrant colors and intricate floral or geometric patterns that merged folk motifs with Western Baroque influences. Comaprable icon of Mother of god of Kazan (XVII century) in State Hermitage collection (Russian Enamel from the 12th to the Early 20th Century from the Collection of the State Hermitage Museum. Leningrad, 1987. P.47)

Starting price: 2000€
Estimate: 2500-3500€
Hammer Price: UNSOLD€

Bragin. Covered jar in the form of ushat.
Silver, casting, chasing, gilding, copper-ruby glass.
Makers mark of «A.B. Bragin». Petersburg, 1892.
This leaded casket combines deep red copper-ruby glass with finely crafted silver mounts. The lid is topped with a cast silver cauliflower and leaves, serving as both handle and decoration. The transparent red glass body highly like produced by Imperial glass manufactory, shaped in the form of a traditional Russian ushat (water pail).
Andrei Stepanovich Bragin (active late 19th – early 20th century)
A respected St. Petersburg silversmith, Bragin opened his workshop in 1888, producing high-quality silver tableware, flatware, and decorative objects. His pieces, often in the Modern style with Pan-Slavic and natural motifs, gained particular fame for enamelled tea sets inspired by Russian folk embroidery. Though smaller than Fabergé’s firm, Bragin’s workshop earned wide recognition, exhibiting in St. Petersburg and Brussels, and his works are now preserved in major museums and collections. Dimensions: 16.5 x 14.5 x 14.5 cm. Total weight of the lid: 430 g.

Starting price: 3500€
Estimate: 4500-6000€
Hammer Price: €

Travel Icon with Deesis and Saint Martyr John
Russia, Nizhniy Novgorod, 1872
Painting on zinc, silver riza (oklad).
Dimensions: 10 × 7.2 cm
Maker’s mark of I. Udalov.

This small double-sided travel icon is an exquisite example of provincial Russian metalwork from the late 19th century. The obverse depicts Saint Martyr John, framed by a finely chased silver riza that leaves the face and hands visible, their darkened tones showing the passage of time. The reverse presents the Deesis composition — Christ enthroned in the center, flanked by the Virgin Mary and St. John the Baptist in prayerful intercession.

The icon’s base is made of zinc — a practical, lightweight metal often used for travel icons. Its chased and engraved silver oklad demonstrates the restrained elegance typical of Nizhniy Novgorod silversmithing.

The maker’s mark belongs to Ivan Ivanovich Udalov (1859–1909), a master silversmith from Nizhniy Novgorod. His hallmark consisted of the initials “ИУ”. Udalov employed one master craftsman, five journeymen, and three apprentices. His workshop produced repoussé and engraved objects in silver and copper, often gilded or silvered. Known works include a reliquary (kovcheg) and an icon cover (oklad) now held in the State Historical Museum, Moscow.

Starting price: 400€
Estimate: 500-600€
Hammer Price: UNSOLD€

Antique Russian samovar table. Wood, marble. The mid of the 19th century.
Dimensions: 77 x 65 x 43 cm.

Starting price: 650€
Estimate: 750-1000€
Hammer Price: UNSOLD€

A Russian Presentation Box with Hardstone Cameo of Grand Duke Pavel Petrovich 
St Petersburg, 1772-1783.
 Cameo attributed to Giovanni Pichler (1734-1791), gem engraver.
Silver, gilding, engraving, mounting, pearls, cabochons, lapis lazuli carved cameo.
 Total weight: 259 g. Dimensions: 5 x 11 x 9 cm.
Marks: stamped EB, St. Petersburg assay mark.
An oval presentation box in the Neo-Renaissance taste, executed in richly gilded silver and profusely ornamented with pierced scrollwork, engraved foliage, seed pearls, and cabochon settings. The domed lid is centered with an oval hardstone cameo portraying Grand Duke Pavel Petrovich in profile. The cameo may be attributed to the engraver Giovanni Pichler (1734-1791), one of the most celebrated gem carvers of the later eighteenth century, whose works were prized in aristocratic and courtly circles for their refined classicism and sculptural precision.
The box unites the arts of glyptic carving and goldsmith’s work in a single ceremonial object. The austere profile portrait, rendered in the language of antique-inspired court representation, is set within an elaborate ornamental framework of Renaissance-derived scrolls and rosettes.
By artistic level and character, the piece belongs to the category of precious presentation boxes intended for courtly gift exchange or cabinet display.

Starting price: 5000€
Estimate: 6000-8000€
Hammer Price: €

Samovar in the Shape of an Egg
Shemarin Brothers’ Manufactory, Tula, 1880s
Silver-plated brass, wood
Height: 45 cm (including the chimney cap)

This silver-plated brass samovar, crafted in the form of an egg, represents the refined aesthetic and exceptional quality of the Shemarin Brothers’ Manufactory in Tula — one of the foremost samovar producers of late Imperial Russia. The harmonious proportions, fine polish, and elegant detailing reflect the high standards of Tula metalwork in the late 19th century.

The Shemarin Brothers manufactured samovars at a time when Russian tea ceremonies had become a hallmark of cultured domestic life. Their samovars were sought after not only by the Russian nobility and intelligentsia but also by Persian shahs, Indian maharajas, and European aristocrats, who appreciated both their craftsmanship and their aura of Russian luxury.

The dynasty began with Ivan Rodionovich Shemarin, a former serf who earned his freedom and, together with his wife Agrippina and five sons, settled in the Tula province. In 1887, the brothers established their own manufactory, which quickly grew into one of the largest in Russia. By 1904, their enterprise ranked second only to the famed Batashev factory, employing over 700 workers and producing up to 6,000 samovars per month.

Their products gained international acclaim, receiving more than ten medals at world fairs — including a silver medal at the 1889 Paris Exposition Universelle and an honorary diploma at the 1901 Glasgow Exhibition. In 1906, the Shemarins were appointed official suppliers to the Shah of Persia, a distinction shared by only a handful of firms worldwide. A year later, they produced several miniature samovars for Emperor Nicholas II.

The factory’s hallmark was variety and precision: more than a hundred models were made, ranging from traditional coal samovars to alcohol-burning and silver-plated types. Each was inspected personally by the eldest brother before leaving the workshop — a testament to their commitment to excellence.

Starting price: 600€
Estimate: 800-1000€
Hammer Price: 600€

Malle Leis (1940–2017) “Potato” Serigraphy, 1979 , edition 7/14.
Signed lower left corner: Võrumaa VI serigraafia 7/14; lower right corner: M.Leis 1979.a. Dimensions: 90 x 52 cm. You can see works of Malle Leis at KUMU Estonian Art Museum in Tallinn. https://kumu.ekm.ee/en/

Starting price: 650€
Estimate: 750-1000€

Traveling Samovar
I. Malishev Manufactory, Tula, mid-19th century
Brass
Height: 30 cm

A rare example of a Russian traveling samovar, produced by the I. Malishev manufactory in Tula — the historic center of samovar craftsmanship.

The body is shaped as a rectangular box with beveled corners and smooth walls. The flat lid features a cylindrical chimney with a narrow ringed projection at the center, cast as one piece with the cover. The handles are cast in the form of stylized palmettes. The spout is faceted, ending with a hook-shaped projection. The detachable, curved legs are faceted, with blade-shaped bases — a distinctive element of early traveling samovars.

Compact and durable, samovars of this type were designed for portability and everyday use during journeys, hunting expeditions, or military campaigns. Their simple yet refined proportions reflect mid-19th-century Tula design aesthetics, balancing practicality and ornamentation.

For a comparable example, see: “The Miracle of the Antique Samovar,” Kolomenskoe Museum, Moscow, 2015.

Starting price: 2000€
Estimate: 2500-3000€
Hammer Price: UNSOLD€

Small Samovar “Egoist” in the Form of a Faceted Cup
Maker’s mark of TUM (Mikhail Polyakov), Tula, 19th century
Brass
Height: 24.5 cm

A rare miniature brass samovar known as an “Egoist”, designed for a single person and holding less than one litre. The body is shaped as a faceted cup with smooth walls, gracefully curved handles, and a square base with turned feet. Despite its modest size, the samovar retains all the classical proportions and decorative elegance typical of full-sized examples.

This piece was made at the Polyakov Manufactory, founded in the 1850s by Grigory Dmitrievich Polyakov, a self-taught craftsman from Tula who transformed his small workshop into a thriving steam-powered factory. The enterprise produced medium and large samovars made of brass and tombac, known for their solid construction, excellent quality, and affordable prices.

By the second half of the 19th century, the factory was managed by Grigory’s son Mikhail Polyakov, whose hallmark “TUM” (Tula Union of Masters) appeared on many fine samovars of the period. His products were widely distributed across Russia and became known for their reliability and elegant simplicity.

The “Egoist” samovars — small, portable, and fuel-efficient — were often owned by bachelors or travelers. They heated quickly, consumed little fuel, and reflected the 19th-century fascination with refined practicality.

Later, the family business was continued by Ivan, Pyotr, Alexander, and Hevronia Polyakov, preserving the traditions of quality and craftsmanship established by their predecessors.

Comparable examples are held in the Museum of Samovars and Kettles, which documents the evolution of Russian tea culture and the artistry of Tula metalwork from the 18th to the 20th centuries.

Starting price: 800€
Estimate: 900-1000€
Hammer Price: UNSOLD€

A Russian Gold, Pink Quartz and Jade Table Bell Push
St Petersburg, late 19th century.
Pink quartz, jade, gold; carving, polishing, mounting.
Dimensions: 3 × 7 × 6 cm.
A refined Russian table bell push of compact rectangular form, carved from translucent pink quartz with softly bevelled edges and a rounded end. At the centre rises a polished dark green jade push-button, mounted within a narrow gold collar.

Starting price: 300€
Estimate: 400-500€
Hammer Price: €

Malle Leis (1940–2017) “A windy day” Serigraphy, 1973y. Edition: 25/30.
Signed lower left corner: Tuuline päev serigraafia 25/30; lower right corner: M.Leis
1973.a Dimensions: 60.5 x 60.5 cm. You can see works of Malle Leis at KUMU Estonian Art Museum in Tallinn. https://kumu.ekm.ee/en/

Starting price: 550€
Estimate: 600-800€

Samovar with Tray and Waste Bowl
Malikov Manufactory, Tula, mid-19th century
Brass
Height (without chimney): 45.5 cm

The body of the samovar is shaped as a vase with a tall neck. The upper section is decorated with faceted panels, while the lower part features concave oval impressions known as “lozhki.” The wide, flat shoulder supports a stepped lid with a central chimney. The paired, upward-curving handles are attached to the body with oval, embossed mounts.

This example belongs to the celebrated Malikov dynasty of Tula samovar makers, whose history dates back to the late 18th century. The founder, Stepan Malikov, was a gunsmith with three sons — Trofim, Ivan, and Dementy. It was Dementy who began samovar production around 1795, at a time when water-heating vessels were becoming increasingly popular in Russia.

The Malikovs were among the first Tula craftsmen to combine weapon and samovar production, often using the same tools and techniques for both trades. By 1803, the Malikov manufactory was one of the eight largest in Tula. During the War of 1812, the factory supplied weapons to the army, temporarily halting samovar production, which later resumed and flourished once again.

In the following decades, the family business passed through several generations, each contributing to its growth and reputation. In 1853, Nikolai Nikolaevich Malikov received a small silver medal at the 10th All-Russian Manufacturing Exhibition in Moscow. By the 1860s, the factory had earned merchant status of the 2nd guild, producing samovars of high quality and refined craftsmanship.

Although the Malikov manufactory ceased operation in 1882, when it was sold to Yegor Vanykin, its legacy remains a cornerstone of Russian metalwork and tea culture. Samovars bearing the Malikov mark are today considered rare examples of early Tula industrial art, combining durability, elegance, and distinctive family style..

Starting price: 800€
Estimate: 1000-1200€
Hammer Price: 800€