The roots of Decorative Arts lie in antiquity, where both Mediterranean and Chinese civilizations aspired to create objects that combined utility with artistry and elegance. The aim was not only for an item to fulfill its practical function, but also to emphasize the status of its owner and inspire admiration.
The value of these objects continues to grow thanks to their uniqueness, the limited output of their makers, rising prices of precious metals (such as silver, gold) and copper used in decorative arts, and the decreasing availability of such works on the market amid constant interest from investors and collectors.
“Apostle” spoon with St. Simon, silver, England, 18th century.
Spoon, so called "apostolic" with a handle topped with a full-figured figure of St. Simon Zelota holding a saw, which is his attribute. The head of the saint topped with a circular shield with a representation of a bird (probably a dove symbolizing the Holy Spirit). Item of liturgical or collectible nature.
“Apostle” spoon with St. Thomas, silver, England, 18th century.
Chapel with Our Lady of Czestochowa and Eagle, Poland, 19th century.
A unique, 19th century chapel (pendant medal) of large format, depicting the image of Our Lady of Czestochowa with the infant Jesus. The front is decorated with an engraved representation of the icon with hand-polychrome faces, robes and halos. In the rim is a Latin inscription: "TERRIBILIS UT CASTRORUM ACIES ORDINATA" a quote from the Song of Songs, read as a symbol of Mary's strength as protector and queen.
On the back there is a classical eagle with a crown, coat of arms and outspread wings, typical of the iconography of the Kingdom of Poland, and a ribbon with an inscription: "REGINA POLONIAE - MISERERE MEI" (Queen of Poland - have mercy on me).The chapel is made of uniform silver-plated sheet metal (brass or alpaca), with a hanging handle. A product with a strong symbolic charge, popular especially during the periods of partitions and national pilgrimages to Jasna Gora.
Cup, silver, Poland (?), 17th-18th century
A cup made of forged silver, likely intended for drinking vodka or other spirits. The vessel has a squat form. The bowl with a semicircular bottom has straight walls, slightly flared upward. The rim is straight, slightly tilted outward and clearly separated from the wall section by a row of concave dots. The bowl has a five-part form – both the rim edge and the walls are divided into five convex segments, separated by vertical fluting. The vessel is set on a low, conical foot and fitted with a flat, S-curved handle. The surface of the bowl is decorated with engraved floral motifs and rocaille ornament.
Similar cups are characteristic of 18th-century Russian silverwork. As a rule, however, they are hallmarked. Our specimen bears no marks, although it undoubtedly came from a fine silversmith's workshop. It is possible that the cup described was made in the 17th century and not in Muscovy at all, but in the east of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. This would explain the absence of hallmarks, which is quite normal for Polish silver from that period. At the same time, it should be remembered that the origin of the popular Russian cups is unknown.
Devotional Ring, Silver, Lviv, 1872-1920
Devotional ring made of silver, featuring a representation of the crucified Jesus. The band bears a hallmark in the form of a lion's head facing left, with the letter "F" and the number "4" on either side, as well as an additional mark with the letter "F". These marks were used by the assay office in Lviv between 1872 and 1920. The maker's mark is unfortunately illegible. The ring is distinguished by an exceptionally rare form. It was likely worn by someone associated with the Church - a priest or a member of a religious order.
Garment Clasp, Gilt Silver, Poland, 17th Century
An ornate clasp made of gilt silver, composed of two round discs connected by a ring to which chains are attached. Currently, the discs are permanently joined; this may be a period modification. Originally, they may have been separable, with the chains serving a decorative function.
Each disc consists of a smooth base covered with an openwork overlay decorated with rocaille ornament and a border of fine hatch marks. The lower disc has a similar border of hatch marks, and along the outer edge an additional decorative band in the form of concave dots creating a circular ornament. At the center of each disc is a flattened loop; this element serves a structural function, connecting the openwork overlay to the base.
On the reverse of both discs are elements enabling their attachment to clothing. On one side of each disc are catches connected by a common ring, while on the opposite side are individual fastening elements; in one of the discs, a loose ring is preserved alongside them.
The form clearly indicates its function as a fastener for a cloak, caftan, or other type of garment. Clasps of this type are well known from 17th-century iconography and appear in portraits of the nobility and wealthy bourgeoisie.
Ivan Khlebnikov, Kovsh with horse’s head, silver, enamel, gilt, Moscow, 1860-1918
A unique kovsh from the famous Moscow factory of Ivan Khlebnikov, made of silver and maintained in the aesthetics of the Novorussian style. The surface of the vessel is decorated with enamel cloisonné - cells formed from thin silver wires soldered to the body, forming partitions later filled with colored glaze, repeatedly fired and polished. The result is a smooth, glossy decoration with floral and geometric motifs in vivid colors. A striking accent is the naturalistically chiseled silver horse's head forming the vessel's handle. The interior retains traces of the original gilding. The kovsh bears the punches: the inscription ХЛѢБНИКОВЪ, which is the signature of Ivan Khlebnikov's company with an eagle (marking the Imperial Court's suppliers), and the oval Moscow probationary mark - the profile of a woman in a coquina with the Greek letter delta and the number 84 (partially rubbed off), indicating the sample of silver.
Medieval chess figure (chaser), bone, Scandinavia (?), 12th century.
A fragment of a medieval long bone figurine of an unspecified animal (probably a land mammal) in the form of a semi-plastic human figure. The head covered with a mitre was depicted in quite a detailed manner. On the chest there is a relief, pointed downward, which can be interpreted as an image of an ornamental belt constituting the hem of a chasuble. The lower part of the body (partially preserved) was probably entirely unornamented - smooth. At the back of the figure, the bone was heavily transformed: edges rounded, spongy structure preserved residually.
The figure is placed in a Plexiglas display on a base that is a reconstruction of its lower part.
Nuremberg basin (Beckenschlägerschüssel) with memento mori decoration, brass, Germany (Nuremberg), 15th-16th century
Round basin, deep; the surface of the mirror slightly convex, passing with an oblique fold into the side wall; in the center of the mirror a repoussed, stylized human skull above crossed tibias, all around a bordure of fleur-de-lis punched with punctures; a narrow, slightly oblique collar with the same ornament at the edge. Edge curled outward, probably reinforced with wire. In places, especially in the recesses, visible remnants of a coating of white metal - most likely tin.