Imperial Russian Trompe Loeil Silver Tea Caddy with Gold Gilt Details, Hallmarked P. Ovchinnikov, Circa 1908-1917

Own a masterpiece from Imperial Russia, created by court artisan Pavel Ovchinnikov, considered an equal in stature and quality to  Karl Faberge. The niello cover is made in the Trompe Loeil fashion to emulate a patterned carpet and features gold gilt fringe and dragonflies. Clear hallmarks:  Kokoshnik 84 silver standard (Moscow) and P. Ovchinnikov makers mark on the bottom of the caddy and the side of the lid. An identical piece lacking the gold gilting was featured on Antiques Roadshow U.K. in 2014.

Total Weight: 173 grams.

Dimensions:  3-1/4 inches height with lid; each side measures 2 inches wide.

Condition: Overall, it is in good antique condition with signs of wear and age. Refer to the photos. NOTE: The current owner is considering a historical restoration of the silver and gold, which will increase the price if it has not been sold before then.

Provenance: Purchased from a well-known New York auction house.

About Pavel Ovchinnikov: Pavel Ovchinnokov (in Russian: Павел Акимович Овчинников) was among the most famous Russian silversmiths of his time, ranking with the likes of Faberge.

Born in a Moscow neighborhood in 1830, the son of a slave named Akim Ovchinnikov, Pavel was sent by Prince Dimitri Volkonski to study in Moscow proper, where he was apprenticed in a jewelry shop. He gained his freedom in 1850 and, three years later, founded his own workshop. Barely a decade later – in 1865 – he was appointed Court supplier to the future Tzar Alexander III, a position he proudly held for 40 years. His works were exhibited at the Pan-Russian manufacturing exhibition in 1865, where he won the gold medal, and at the Exposition Universelle in Paris in 1867. A few years later, he was appointed as a court supplier by Vittorio Emanuele II (the king of Italy) and by Christian IX (the king of Denmark).

In 1873, Ovchinnikov opened a branch in St. Petersburg, and by 1881, over three hundred people were working for the firm. Recognizing the importance of education, he founded a professional school at his factory for training artists and craftsmen in silverware and jewelry.

Pavel died in 1888, and his sons (Mikhail, Alexander, Pavel, and Nikolai) managed the firm until 1917 when it ceased operations because of the outbreak of the Russian Revolution.

Ovchinnikov is especially famous for his exquisite enamel works, which drew on different processing techniques (cloisonné, champlevé, and plique-à-jour).

Today, his works remain highly collectible and are represented in the most important international museums and royal collections.

Read more about Pavel Ovchinnokov on Sotheby’s HERE, or on Russia Beyond HERE.

And take a look at the Antiques Roadshow screen grab (lower right) in product photos included. 🙂