Bidspirit auction | Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov (1924–2011)

Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov (1924–2011) - Brooch “Guidon”. Palekh, USSR, 1970. Papier-mâché, egg tempera, raised gold, lacquer. Diameter 5 cm. Condition report: Signs of wear; abrasions and minor losses to the lacquer. Provenance: From the Golikov family collection (Palekh). Created and preserved within the artist’s personal archive. Previously unoffered on the open market. A finely executed miniature by Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov, one of the leading masters of the Palekh school, Honoured Artist of the RSFSR, and a representative of a distinguished artistic dynasty, son of Ivan Ivanovich Golikov. The work belongs to the artist’s mature period and is based on Alexander Pushkin’s “The Tale of Tsar Saltan”, depicting the moment when Prince Guidon rescues the Swan Princess from a predatory bird. The composition is set against a rich cinnabar-red ground - an uncommon choice for Palekh brooches - enhancing both the decorative richness and the narrative intensity of the scene. The dynamic figure of Guidon drawing his bow contrasts with the graceful movement of the swan and the tense silhouette of the attacking bird. Executed with refined precision, the detailing - from the plumage to the folds of the garments - is rendered using raised gold and the traditional multi-layered tempera technique characteristic of the Palekh school. Collecting & Investment Potential: Works by Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov are held in major museum collections, including the State Russian Museum and the State Historical Museum, and form part of the established canon of Palekh miniature painting. Works with direct family provenance are rarely encountered on the market and typically enter private collections. A museum-quality Palekh miniature by Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov, preserved within the artist’s family. Opportunities of this kind are rare and typically secured at the point of first availability.