Items Similar to Sotheby's Catalog, An Important Russian Imperial Jewel. Geneva, 2005 1st Ed
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 16
Sotheby's Catalog, An Important Russian Imperial Jewel. Geneva, 2005 1st Ed
About the Item
Sotheby's Catalog, An Important Russian Imperial Jewel. Geneva 17 November 2005. 1st Ed hardcover. "An impressive and highly important diamond ornament from the collection of the Russian Imperial Family, Russia, second half of the 18th century. This diamond necklace with bowknot clasp is not only a remarkable jewel in itself, but its Russian royal provenance puts it in a class of its own. It evokes the blinding splendour of Catherine II, Empress of Russia: the magnificence of her court, her parks, her palaces, her art collections, and monuments. The most striking and colourful figure on the stage of European political life, for thirty four years she ruled a mighty empire which stretched from Siberia to Poland and left it stronger, larger and richer than when she came to the throne in 1762. After her death in 1796, her friend the Prince de Ligne, who had named her Catherine the Great, declared that this title- which has never been lost- resumed all her genius, courage, sense of justice, and force of character.
Using her court as a stage, she played the part of an autocratic but enlightened ruler to perfection, imposing in her public appearances, kind and charming in private. The French ambassador, the Comte de Ségur who noticed how “her majestic head and brow, proud look and dignified deportment made her seem taller than she was”, was also impressed by her feminine grace “ her aquiline nose, well shaped mouth, Saxe blue eyes beneath dark lashes, gentle glance and seductive smile”. In spite of her success, she once confided to the Prince de Ligne that she could have served Russia better if she had been born a man. Ever the courtier, he assured her that being a woman was a positive advantage. “Believe me, you are so much more impressive in your beautiful embroidered orange red velvet dolman or tunic than a man decked out in boots and shoulder sash can ever be. In addition the five huge diamonds blazing out from your hair are far more effective than a man’s hat which is either ridiculously small or ridiculously big”. He was right. Her diamond jewellery proclaimed her power and her rank as Empress and appealed to the Russian taste for sumptuous goods. It impressed the Rev. William Coxe, visiting St. Petersburg in 1778: “the glory and the splendor of the clothing of the court and abundance of precious stones leave the opulence of other European courts far behind” and his opinion was shared by the acute Madame de Stael who observed, “ this people prefers magnificence to domestic tranquillity.
In 1764, recognizing that grand jewelry was an integral part of the Russian court tradition she transformed the Imperial Bedchamber in the south east corner of the Winter Palace into the Brilliant Room described by the German visitor Johann Georgi, “Her room is like a priceless jewel case. The regalia is laid out on a table under a great crystal globe through which everything can be examined in detail … the walls of the room are lined with glass cabinets containing numerous pieces of jewellery set with diamonds and other precious stones as well as insignia and portraits of her Imperial majesty, snuff boxes, watches and chains drawing instruments, signet rings, bracelets, sword belts and other priceless treasures among which the Empress chooses presents for giving away”.
Throughout her long reign the collection was continually increasing by purchase and by gifts, including diamonds, colored stones, pearls, Chinese filigree and Indian Mughal ornaments. All new acquisitions, which were supervised by two men Glazumov and Aduarov, were either brought in from abroad, or ordered from the colony of Russian and foreign jewellers and goldsmiths resident in St. Petersburg. The four main suppliers to the Empress were Leopold Pfisterer, engaged by Prince Dimitri Michailovitch Golitsyn, Russian ambassador to Vienna in 1763, who signed a 6 year contract but remained in St. Petersburg for 34 more years, Jerome Pauzier of Geneva and his compatriot Louis David Duval who, in 1789 with Jacob David Duval founded the firm Louis David Duval and Son.
Those jewels, such as this necklace which have survived from this display demonstrate that during the second half of the eighteenth century the art of jewellery in Europe reached a summit of elegant design and execution never equalled since. Although those made in St. Petersburg for a Russian clientèle are that much grander, with bigger stones and ordered in larger quantities than elsewhere, yet the standard of refinement was high enough to satisfy the most fashionable and exacting European taste. Commanding huge revenues and the mineral wealth of the Urals there was no limit to what Catherine II could afford, and in 1792 she decided to transfer her jewels for display in a new, more spacious Brilliant Room decorated in classical Russian style, hung with paintings by Antony van Dyck and with the celebrated Peacock clock of James Cox in the centre. But Catherine II did not concentrate all her interest in brilliant gem set jewellery to the exclusion of other types of craftsmanship. As she adored tobacco, under her patronage the goldsmiths of St. Petersburg. Paris and Berlin perfected their skills of enamelling and chasing while producing innumerable exquisite snuff boxes for her pleasure. An inventory of 1789 lists the various items which add up to a collection of the some of the most exquisite jewels and objets de vertu created during the eighteenth century.
The necklace conjures up a picture of the Empress, escorted by six pet greyhounds choosing jewels for a state occasion in the Brilliant Room, then moving next door to her Chambre de toilette. There a hairdresser might crown her piled up hair with a Russian style kokochnik tiara, aigrette, or jewelled pins, perhaps those designed as bowknots like the clasp of the necklace, which are still in the Kremlin. Afterwards, dressed in her picturesque loose sleeved Muscovite style gown she would proceed to a reception. a gala dinner or court ball. Even in her final years, her stately appearance continued to fascinate, as the artist Elizabeth Vigée Lebrun describes “although not tall, with her erect head, eagle eye and countenance so used to command, all was so symbolic of majesty that she looked as if she were queen of the world. She wore the ribbons of the three Orders over a dress of noble simplicity. It consisted of a red velvet dolman over a gold embroidered white muslin tunic with wide pleated sleeves, turned back in oriental fashion. Instead of ribbons, the most beautiful diamonds were scattered over the cap covering her white hair”. Similarly a diamond necklace such as this, worn as part of a parure drawing all eyes towards her, would also have enhanced that incomparable aura which set the Empress Catherine apart from her subjects. With such a history the possession of a jewel of this quality and rarity would surely be the glory of any modern collection."
- Creator:Sotheby's (Author)
- Dimensions:Height: 11 in (27.94 cm)Width: 8.5 in (21.59 cm)Depth: 0.5 in (1.27 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:2005
- Condition:cover has light wear.
- Seller Location:valatie, NY
- Reference Number:
NPT Books
NPT Books, a division of N. P. Trent Antiques, was established in 1982 and serves clients in the US and around the world. We offer a large selection of used and out of print books mainly concentrating on art, architecture, decoration and antiques with a large focus on 1st editions, signed and rare limited editions. Member of The Art and Antique Dealers League of America since 1996.
About the Seller
5.0
Gold Seller
These expertly vetted sellers are highly rated and consistently exceed customer expectations.
Established in 1980
1stDibs seller since 2017
1,223 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 1 hour
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: valatie , NY
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
More From This SellerView All
- Sotheby's London 2019 Auction Catalog Qing Imperial Porcelain, 1st EdLocated in valatie, NYSotheby's London 2019 Auction Catalog Qing Imperial Porcelain. 1st Ed hardcover. This is a collection of fine imperial porcelains carefully assembled by a discerning private collec...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Books
MaterialsPaper
- Sotheby's Sale Catalog, James Naismith's Founding Rules of Basketball, 1st EdBy Sotheby'sLocated in valatie, NYSotheby's Sale Catalog, James Naismith's Founding Rules of Basketball. Sotheby's New York, December 2010. Auction catalog for single item sale of an ori...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Books
MaterialsPaper
- Sotheby's Collection Léon Levy: Important Mobilier Et Objets D'art, 1st EdBy Sotheby'sLocated in valatie, NYCollection Léon Levy: Important Mobilier et Objets d'Art. Sotheby's Paris, 2008. 1st Ed hardcover with dust jacket. pp. 281. French and English text. Catalog for the sale of the coll...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Books
MaterialsPaper
- Sotheby's Art at Auction, the Art Market in Review 1993-94 by Sotheby's, 1st EdBy Sotheby'sLocated in valatie, NYSotheby's Art at Auction - The Art Market in Review 1993-1994 by Sotheby's. Hightlights: "The Property of a Lady" by Ian Fleming a James Bond short story (commissioned by Sotheby's in 1963), Klimt (Dame mit Facher), David Smith (Cubi V), Harry Winston diamond necklace...Category
1990s English Books
MaterialsPaper
- Gio Ponti, Una Collezione Sotheby's Sale Catalogue, 2005, 1st EdLocated in valatie, NYGio Ponti, Una Collezione Sotheby's Sale Catalogue, 2005 in Milano. 1st Ed softcover auction catalog. Sotheby's auction catalogue of a sale of works by the influential and one of the...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Books
MaterialsPaper
- Sotheby's, Easton Neston, May 17-19 2005 2 Volumes, 1st EdLocated in valatie, NYSotheby's, Easton Neston, May 17-19 2005. Pair of auction catalogs, softcover 1st Ed. 734pp. English text. A pair of large and well illustrated catalogue...Category
21st Century and Contemporary English Books
MaterialsPaper
You May Also Like
- The Greta Garbo Collection Auction Catalog - 1990 Sotheby's - 1st EditionLocated in Rochester, NYThe Greta Garbo Collection, Sale 6098 - November 1990 Sotheby's NY. Glossy orange patterned hard cover book w/ dust wrapper and slipcase. Colored photographic illustrations of Impres...Category
1990s American Books
MaterialsPaper
- 7 Sotheby's New York Pre-Columbian Sales Catalogs 1993 -1997By Sotheby'sLocated in Stamford, CTA group of seven Sotheby's New York Pre-Columbian sales catalogs with lavish color photos. An invaluable reference for the collector, scholar or anyone interested in Pre-Columbian a...Category
1990s Pre-Columbian Books
MaterialsPaper
- Sotheby's Auction Catalog's , Decorative works of Art , Deco 15By Sotheby'sLocated in Los Angeles, CAA collection of 15 Sotheby's Auction Catalog's . Most in the (Important 20 Th Century Decorative works of Art ) All in great condition from a collector of Art Deco . 100,s more . Man...Category
1990s American Art Deco Books
MaterialsPaper
- Basquiat Man Made Sotheby's exhibition catalog 2013 (Basquiat Sotheby's S/2)By Jean-Michel BasquiatLocated in Brooklyn, NYBasquiat Man Made exhibition catalog 2013: Rare 2013 exhibition catalog to Sotheby's S/2 Basquiat "Man Made" exhibition sale featuring over 30 works by Jean-Michel Basquiat. The cata...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Books
MaterialsPaper
- The Duke and Duchess of Windsor Sotheby's Auction Catalogs, Set of ThreeBy Sotheby'sLocated in London, GBSotheby's catalogues from the Duke and Duchess of Windsor Auction from September 11-19, 1997. New York: Sotheby's, 1997. First edition ...Category
20th Century American Books
MaterialsPaper
- Bertram K. Little Nina Fletcher Little Collection: 1994 Sotheby's Catalogs 1 & 2Located in Rochester, NYThe Bertram K. Little and Nina Fletcher Little Collection: January 29 and October 21 - 22, 1994 - Sotheby's, New York. Auction Catalogs - Part 1 and 2. Hardcover decorated black boar...Category
1990s American Folk Art Books
MaterialsPaper
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Russian Queen
Royal Provenance Jewelry
Mughal Bracelets Set
East Indian Bracelets
Mens White Gold Diamond Signet
Bracelets Only No Watches
Ball Watch Enamel
Diamond Peacock Watches
Duval Clock
Greyhound Clock
Enamel Gold Clasp France
Chains For Men Gold With Diamond
Tall Modern China Cabinet
Mens Filigree Ring
Large Mens Signet Ring
German Tall Clocks
Chinese Case Goods
Diamond Sword Pin