The silver section opens with a silver set of 12 forks and 12 knives by the master Pavel Ovchinnikov (lot 85). Pavel Akimovich Ovchinnikov opened his gold and silver manufactory in Moscow in 1851, carried out major state commissions for the imperial court and, from 1865, became a standing supplier to the court of Tsarevich Alexander (the future Emperor Alexander III). In 1872 the firm was granted the title of supplier to the court of His Imperial Majesty, and in 1878 that of supplier to the court of Grand Duke Mikhail Nikolaevich. The P. A. Ovchinnikov firm is a mark of the highest quality, both in the days of pre-revolutionary Russia and today.

The catalogue features a broad selection of costume and set designs by Erté (lots 1, 4-9, 23, 90 (a jewelled bracelet after Erté, 1980s)). Born in Russia, Romain de Tirtoff (Roman Petrovich Tyrtov), known as Erté, an outstanding fashion and stage designer of the 20th century, is one of the best-known artists of the Art Deco style.

HERMITAGE FINE ART PRESENTS ITS AUTUMN AUCTION ART DECO, ART NOUVEAU, 20TH CENTURY DESIGN, OBJECTS OF VERTU AND JEWELLERY

Hotel Le Meridien Beach Plaza, Monaco, Salon Zephyr: After the hot summer, Hermitage Fine Art proudly announces its upcoming auction on 28 September 2021 dedicated to the two important artistic movements of Art Nouveau and Art Déco as well as Vertu Objects, Design Objects of the 20th century, and Jewellery. Bidders can either participate from the auction room or contact the auction house to schedule a telephone bid/absentee bid. They can also register in one of the live streaming platforms to place their bids online: The Saleroom, Bidspirit, Invaluable and Drouot.The sale will be preceded by a preview on September 26 starting from 16:00 and on September 27 starting from 14:00 CET.

The auction will include many of the most known names of the early XX century art movements. Alphonse Mucha (lots 2 and 3) and Alphonse Germain-Thill (lot 12) are two important names in this sale, as well as George Clarins (lot 10 and 15). George Clairin is best known for his informal intimate portraits of the glamorous actress Sarah Bernhardt, first his lover and then his close friend for 50 years. Lot number 10 of the auction is “Portrait of Sarah Bernhardt at Belle-Ile-Sur-Mer”.

The Russian-born Erté is one of the foremost fashion and theatrical designers of the twentieth century and the auction will include some stage and costume designs, a coat design for Henri Bendel (lot 1), some illustrations and a bracelet after his design (lot 90). Two works by George Barbier, who worked closely with Erté in the 1920s, illustrate two poems taken from erotic collection “The Songs of Bilitis” by Pierre Louÿs (lot 17 and 18).

In the book section of the catalogue, of particular note are the caricature albums SEM by Georges Goursat (lots 76 and 77), including caricatures of Prince Golitsyn, Poniatowski and Trubetskoy, and «All Petersburg in Caricatures» by Paul Robert, a Swiss who lived in Russia (lot 74).

Lovers of the art of photography will be drawn to the works of Nikolai Svishchov-Paola (lots 79-82), known for his portraits of Sergei Yesenin, Sergei Lemeshev, Vasily Kachalov, Nikolai Bukharin and many others.

The catalogue also includes works by leading artists of the early 20th century: Alphonse Mucha (lots 2 and 3), Alphonse Germain-Thill (lot 12) and George Clarins (lots 10 and 15). Another important lot is the large-scale painting «Felins» by Ludovic Alleaume (lot 16), which was shown in Paris at the 141st ‘Officielle des Beaux-Arts’ exhibition in 1928.

The large-scale “Felins” by Ludovic Alleaume (1859-1941) was exhibited in Paris at the 141st Exposition Officielle des Beaux-Arts in 1928. Symbolic and flamboyant, this painting is an example of Alleaume’s oeuvre, interweaving reality and imaginary, evoking a mystical and sensual atmosphere. It was painted one years after he received the prestigious National Order of the Legion of Honour – the highest French order of merit.

The decorative objects will feature vases, glassworks, and pieces of furniture by artists such as Georges de Feure or Emile Gallé (lots 30, 31, 56, 57), the French industrialist, glassmaker, cabinetmaker, and ceramist considered one of the most important figures in the applied arts of his time and one of the pioneers of Art Nouveau. He was the founder, with Victor Prouvé, Louis Majorelle, Antonin Daum et Eugène Vallin, of the Ecole de Nancy. Additionally, the auction house is delighted to offer for bidding a bronze lamp by Maurice Dufrène (lot 51), some lots signed by Louis Majorelle and Daum Frères (lots 35, 52), an important peacock lamp in bronze and glass made by Muller Frères and Leon Chapelle (lot 53) and many more.

Sculptures will include works by Alexander Kelety (lot 47) and Henry Fugère (lot 46) among others, while silver pieces will comprise a Russian silver set with the mark of M.P. Ovchinnikov (lot 85), a four-piece set by Prince Bojidar Karageorgevitch (lot 86) and others, including Cartier pieces. The sculpture “Snake dancer” (lot 50) by Samuel Lipschitz represents his ability to convey the dynamism in his work. This Polish-born artist worked as a sculptor on marble and ivory in Paris and tragically died in Auschwitz in 1943.

The auction will offer an elegant selection of Jewellery, comprising 19th century brooches, a collection signed Cartier including cufflinks, a hat/tie pin, a gold cigarette case, table clocks and a lady’s tortoiseshell and suede clutch bag, and Chopard pendants. One of a kind ‘sculptures-to-wear’ artist’s jewellery – Lalique pendant (lot 89), Art Nouveau horn pendant by Elizabeth Bonte (lot 108) and Art Deco glass pendant by Gabriel Argu-Rousseau (lot 107). The sale will also feature some modern and contemporary jewellery designs: a highlight is a pear-shaped deep brown-yellow diamond ring with GIA certificate (lot 109) and a contemporary designed unique Colombian emerald and rock crystal ring with GRS certificate (lot 156).

The Jewellery sale has been prepared with the participation of Almaz Juwelenhandelsges m.b.H.,