Bidspirit auction | SWEETMEAT BASKET WITH VIEWS OF

SWEETMEAT BASKET WITH VIEWS OF MOSCOW PAVEL OVCHINNIKOV FIRM, MOSCOW, RUSSIA, 1875 - A rare and refined example of Russian decorative art from the second half of the 19th century — a sweetmeat basket with a hinged handle, produced by the celebrated Moscow silversmith Pavel Ovchinnikov, Purveyor to the Imperial Court. The rounded body with a low neck and softly flared contour is executed in the niello technique on silver, with a fully gilded interior. Two oval cartouches present finely detailed panoramic views of Moscow: – one side shows the façade of the Grand Kremlin Palace with adjacent churches; – the other displays Red Square with the Nikolskaya Tower and Kremlin walls. These engraved panoramas, masterfully executed in niello, are framed by delicate foliate ornamentation in the Neo-Russian style. The hinged handle is decorated with a twisted motif engraving, enhancing the harmonious silhouette. The piece combines technical mastery, historical iconography, and the superior craftsmanship characteristic of the Ovchinnikov workshop. Marks: Maker’s mark under the double-headed imperial eagle — “P. Ovchinnikov” (in a rectangle under the arms); Assayer’s mark “I.K” above a line and the date “1875” (unidentified Moscow assayer); Imperial state hallmark with silver fineness “84” and the Moscow arms (Saint George slaying the dragon); Master’s mark “VS” — Vasily Semyonov, a Moscow silversmith and founder of a workshop active since 1852. Dimensions: Diameter: 11 cm; height of body: 5 cm; height with handle raised: 12 cm Weight: 204 g Condition: Good. Gilding is even. Minor rubbing on the base. No dents, cracks, restorations, or signs of active use. Provenance: Moscow, Pavel Ovchinnikov firm, Purveyor to the Imperial Court. Private collection. Condition : Good, with traces of use Style : Neo-Russian Country : Russia Period : 19th century Warranty : Seller Warranty Material : Silver 84, Gilding Product sizes : Height - 12cm, Width - 11cm, Depth - 11cm Location : Gallery ”Antiqon”, Brivibas street 52, Riga, Latvia