Antique Imperial Russian Artist's Palette Charm Pendant

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Antique Imperial Russian Artist's Palette Charm Pendant

About the Item

1903 saw the foundation of the Union of Russian Artists, an exhibiting society comprising artists from the St Petersburg based Mir iskusstva (World of Art) and former members of the progressive and democratic group known as the Wanderers (Peredvizhniki). The World of Art movement had become disillusioned, as the Pre-Raphaelites had before them, with the anti-aesthetic nature of modern industrial society, seeking to restore and consolidate neo-romantic Russian artists under one flag - notable members included Alexandre Benois and Léon Bakst. Break away members of the Wanderers included Valentin Serov and Abram Arkhipov. The society's explicit purpose was to "to promote Russian art and to provide members sell their art works", but it also sought to break away from the old forms through self organised exhibitions, not controlled by juries. It ran 18 exhibitions in total from 1903 to 1923, the most successful being the 11th (1913/14) which hosted over 25,000 viewers and made over 70,000 roubles from the sales of works (over $2 million in today's money). Artists from the two groups embraced widely divergent aesthetic stances ranging from lyrical landscapes by Nikolay Klodt and Arkady Rylov, to the impressionistic paintings of Igor Grabar, symbolist works by Viktor Borisov-Musatov, and experimental works by Mikhail Brubel and V. Serov. The Union of Russian Artists didn't achieve stylistic unity until after the 7th exhibition (1910), when 17 of the St Petersburg artists, led by Benoit, departed citing artistic differences and going on to re-form the World of Art. From then until its dissolution in 1923, the members mainly produced landscapes and genre scenes characterised by a democratic tendency and an interest in the Russian landscape and the distinctly original features of Russian life. This Russian charm is modelled as an artist's palette, complete with gem-set paint patches. The quality is superb, as expected with Imperial Russian jewellery, it's crafted in 56z (14 karat) gold with an inscription 9th/21st March 1903 (at the time Russia used the Julian calendar, while the rest of Europe had changed over to the Gregorian, meaning the dates were 13 days out of sync). Was it commissioned to commemorate the founding of the Union of Russian Artists? Quite possibly. We'll never know for sure. STONES Turquoise, Pearl, Ruby, Emerald MEASUREMENTS 2.3 x 1.5cm WEIGHT 3.2g MARKS 56z (for 14k gold) Maker's mark partially rubbed: S.?

Metal:
14k Gold
Stone:
Emerald,Natural Pearl,Ruby,Turquoise
Stone Cut:
Cabochon
Weight:
3.2 g
Dimensions:
Width: 0.6 in (15 mm)Length: 0.91 in (23 mm)
Style:
Russian Empire
Place of Origin:
Russia
Period:
Early 20th Century
Date of Manufacture:
Circa 1903
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Sale, GB
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU173212787642