.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
Christie's would like to thank François Le Tacon for his assistance with the cataloguing of this lot.
Several works of art by Emile Gallé are accompanied by Russian silver mounts crafted by important silversmith houses such as Fabergé and Bolin. The Hermitage Museum owns three remarkable vases by Emile Gallé, mounted by Fabergé, that were part of the collection of Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna (vase entitled Vegetations of Symbols, inventory no. 23410, 1892, decorated with water lilies and dragonflies, mounted in St. Petersburg by Fabergé and Y Rappoport; vase, inventory no. 23412, 1896, with clematis decoration, mounted in St. Petersburg by Fabergé and Y Rappoport; vase, inventory no. 23411, 1898, with dahlia leaves and flowers decoration in glass marquetry, mounted in St. Petersburg by Fabergé and Y Rappoport). The interest in Nancy, the leading capital of glass making in France at the turn of the century, by the Russian Imperial Family is evidenced by the purchase of The Vegetation of Symbols vase of 1892, bought directly by the tsarina from Émile Gallé on October 11, 1896 during her stay in Darmstadt. This vase was later mounted by a Russian silvermith, Fabergé, probably also in the same year. The Grand Duc Serge also acquired from Gallé a slender cornet vase, which was later mounted by Fabergé. This vase disappeared during the 1917 Revolution.
These examples of important Gallé glass works traveling from France to Russia for further adornment by Russian silversmiths is also present in the current lot. Notice the beautifuly wheel-carved cameo glass of budding blossoms issuing lush foliage -- these motifs are masterfully crafted in silver at the top rim by important Russian silversmith house Bolin, a direct converastion between two important industries of art: glass and silver.
Several works of art by Emile Gallé are accompanied by Russian silver mounts crafted by important silversmith houses such as Fabergé and Bolin. The Hermitage Museum owns three remarkable vases by Emile Gallé, mounted by Fabergé, that were part of the collection of Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna (vase entitled Vegetations of Symbols, inventory no. 23410, 1892, decorated with water lilies and dragonflies, mounted in St. Petersburg by Fabergé and Y Rappoport; vase, inventory no. 23412, 1896, with clematis decoration, mounted in St. Petersburg by Fabergé and Y Rappoport; vase, inventory no. 23411, 1898, with dahlia leaves and flowers decoration in glass marquetry, mounted in St. Petersburg by Fabergé and Y Rappoport). The interest in Nancy, the leading capital of glass making in France at the turn of the century, by the Russian Imperial Family is evidenced by the purchase of The Vegetation of Symbols vase of 1892, bought directly by the tsarina from Émile Gallé on October 11, 1896 during her stay in Darmstadt. This vase was later mounted by a Russian silvermith, Fabergé, probably also in the same year. The Grand Duc Serge also acquired from Gallé a slender cornet vase, which was later mounted by Fabergé. This vase disappeared during the 1917 Revolution.
These examples of important Gallé glass works traveling from France to Russia for further adornment by Russian silversmiths is also present in the current lot. Notice the beautifuly wheel-carved cameo glass of budding blossoms issuing lush foliage -- these motifs are masterfully crafted in silver at the top rim by important Russian silversmith house Bolin, a direct converastion between two important industries of art: glass and silver.