Lot 17
  • 17

A pair of large Russian Imperial Neoclassical Kalgan jasper tazze Imperial Lapidary Manufactory Ekaterinburg, dated 1866

Estimate
80,000 - 120,000 USD
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Description

  • jasper, metal
  • height 17 3/4 in.; diameter 16 in.
  • 45.5 cm; 41 cm
inscribed: The Imperial Ekaterin[burg] Lap[idary] Manufac[tory] [Acting in the] Pos[ition of] Direc[tor] Court Coun[cillor] Lyutin 1866; transliterated: Imperatorskaia Ekaterin. Granil. Fab. Isprav. Dolzh. Direk. Nadvor. Sovet. Liutin 1866 g.

Condition

With small chips to upper section at arounbd edges. Very minor chips to fluted socles. Minor chips to rim of top section, largest chip approximately 0.5cm in length. Largest chips is to small disc supporting upper section; approximately 0.75 inches in length and mostly visible when top is removed. One top section with minor glue residue to edge and a larger, approximately 2in. by 0.75in., irregular area with glue. No restorations visible under UV light. Minor abrasions and some light surface dirt to carved areas. In very good condition for age.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Catalogue Note

Lyutin is undoubtedly a reference to Alexander Ivanovich Lyutin (1814-1884), a designer for and later director of the Imperial Lapidary Manufactory at Ekaterinburg from 1869. In 1866, he probably temporarily served as Director.

The tazze are a very fine example of Russian craftsman and display the artisans' great skill at cutting and polishing rare stones and marbles. The Russians were aided by the discoveries of rich deposits of semi-precious stones in the Urals and further east in Siberia. Towards the end of the 18th century, blocks of Korgon, porphyry, rhodonite, Kalgan and Aushkul jasper and Nevianok marble were quarried and sent to St. Petersburg to be cut and polished into objects.

The Imperial government established the first factory at Peterhof in the late 18th century, probably employing Italian craftsmen. Subsequently, the administration set up further factories at Ekaterinburg and Kolyvan in the Urals where the locally trained stone cutters could work larger pieces of stone. These were active through the third quarter of the 19th century (A. Cheneviere, Russian Furniture: the Golden Age, 1780-1840, New York, 1988, p. 263, fig. 286).