DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1399#0260
PLATE 285.
SPECIMENS OF THE. GOLDSMITH'S ART,
BY GOOBKIN, MOSCOW; SAZIKOFF, ST. PETEESBURG; AND BELIBEKOF, TIFLIS.
M GOOBKIN, of Moscow, received a medal from the International Jury of Class 33, "for
• design and workmanship. A cover for the Holy Gospels, very rich in composition,
beautifully ornamented, well designed and executed," for an illustration of which see Plate 65.
M. Sazikoff, of St. Petersburg and Moscow, also obtained a medal, " for high artistic design
and workmanship. The works exhibited by M. Sazikoff possess a high degree of merit. The
Jury desire especially to notice the binding of the Gospels, executed for his Imperial Majesty,
the work of which is very finely designed and beautifully finished. The figures are well drawn
and the paintings of Christ and the Virgin highly finished. Two large silver plaques chased in
repousse, illustrative of events in Eussian history, are well executed." M. Belibekof, of Mnatzakan,
Tiflis, obtained Honourable mention, "for general merit, especially two ostrich-egg vases mounted
in blue enamel."
We have selected for our present illustration a salver, flask, and liqueur-glasses, enriched
with gold arabesques and blue enamel-work on a pounced silver ground, by M. Goobkin, remark-
able for their excellent shape and fine execution. The enamelled bottle and sugar-basin, worked
in niello by M. Sazikoff, may serve to give some slight idea of his peculiar style, but we
should have required several engravings to have done justice to the great variety, individuality,
fancy, good taste, and excellent workmanship, which characterized the large contribution of this
eminent goldsmith. The koolas, or ostrich-egg bottles, mounted in copper-gilt and beautifully
enamelled by M. Belibekof, of Tiflis, the capital of Georgia, serve to satisfy us that ornamental
art in the semi-Oriental districts of Russia is in a good state : they were in eveiy respect very
attractive, the manipulation perhaps a little rough, a defect which really, in our eyes, after the
sacrifices of art to workmanship in our own country, is not without its charm.
We regret that want of space prevented our illustrating the finely-embossed silver Gospel
covers of M. Verkovzef, of St. Petersburg, the silver statue of St. George, after Pimenof, by
M. Morand, of the same city, and the fine silver group of Russian peasants driving a sleigh, by
M. Goobkin. We remark in the Russian goldsmiths' work a curious retention of the old
Byzantine style, especially in the metal book-covers, minutely chased and containing coloured
representations of the Virgin and child, our Saviour, &c, inlaid precisely after the manner of
the purest old Byzantine works. Besides the enamelling, which is a special feature in these
productions, the ornament consists of devices executed in niello, engraving, and tasteful combi-
nations of silver oxidized, burnished, blackened, and gilt. The designs evince great originality
as well as a good eye for form. The caviare jars on stands, with spoons arranged in a rack
around them and furnished with little figures on the covers, are peculiarly characteristic; and
as regards the niello-work of M. Sazikoff on spoons, cups, boxes and an infinity of small objects,
we cannot speak too highly.
Tooke, in his "View of the Russian Empire," A.D. 1799, observes that TJstiug, in the govern-
ment of Wologda, was particularly famoits for its " silver snuffboxes, &c, with engraved figures
blackened, of which art they make a great mystery. These figures, and even whole landscapes
and maps, are graved in silver, and the lines drawn over with melted sulphur, which fixes them
black, and the whole work is afterwards polished." Thus we see that with other arts which
were commonly practised in the Middle Ages, and which have only lately been revived among
us, the Russians have kept up an uninterrupted series of works founded on traditional principles;
and this is less to be wondered at considering how much they have been preserved from the
changes of European fashion, how intimately they have been connected with the East, that
paradise of conservatives, and from the fact of their being possessed of some of the most
remarkable and elaborate specimens of ancient art, especially in goldsmith's work, still to be
found in Europe, such as the magnificent pieces in the Imperial treasury, the cup of Vladimir
Monomaclms, the cleft crown of the Empress Anna Joannovna, the grand imperial orb and
cross, the orb of the Tsar Alexis Michaelovitch, the splendid state sceptres and thrones of
Michael Theodorovitch, the gold throne sent by Shah Abbas to the Tsar Boris Godunov, and
the series of gifts sent from Constantinople on the occasion of the marriage of the Grand-Duke
John III. with the Princess Sofia Pala?ologus. Such fine examples of the goldsmith's art could
not but affect the national style, and we are greatly indebted to the Russian Government for
the splendid publication in which they are reproduced.
SPECIMENS OF THE. GOLDSMITH'S ART,
BY GOOBKIN, MOSCOW; SAZIKOFF, ST. PETEESBURG; AND BELIBEKOF, TIFLIS.
M GOOBKIN, of Moscow, received a medal from the International Jury of Class 33, "for
• design and workmanship. A cover for the Holy Gospels, very rich in composition,
beautifully ornamented, well designed and executed," for an illustration of which see Plate 65.
M. Sazikoff, of St. Petersburg and Moscow, also obtained a medal, " for high artistic design
and workmanship. The works exhibited by M. Sazikoff possess a high degree of merit. The
Jury desire especially to notice the binding of the Gospels, executed for his Imperial Majesty,
the work of which is very finely designed and beautifully finished. The figures are well drawn
and the paintings of Christ and the Virgin highly finished. Two large silver plaques chased in
repousse, illustrative of events in Eussian history, are well executed." M. Belibekof, of Mnatzakan,
Tiflis, obtained Honourable mention, "for general merit, especially two ostrich-egg vases mounted
in blue enamel."
We have selected for our present illustration a salver, flask, and liqueur-glasses, enriched
with gold arabesques and blue enamel-work on a pounced silver ground, by M. Goobkin, remark-
able for their excellent shape and fine execution. The enamelled bottle and sugar-basin, worked
in niello by M. Sazikoff, may serve to give some slight idea of his peculiar style, but we
should have required several engravings to have done justice to the great variety, individuality,
fancy, good taste, and excellent workmanship, which characterized the large contribution of this
eminent goldsmith. The koolas, or ostrich-egg bottles, mounted in copper-gilt and beautifully
enamelled by M. Belibekof, of Tiflis, the capital of Georgia, serve to satisfy us that ornamental
art in the semi-Oriental districts of Russia is in a good state : they were in eveiy respect very
attractive, the manipulation perhaps a little rough, a defect which really, in our eyes, after the
sacrifices of art to workmanship in our own country, is not without its charm.
We regret that want of space prevented our illustrating the finely-embossed silver Gospel
covers of M. Verkovzef, of St. Petersburg, the silver statue of St. George, after Pimenof, by
M. Morand, of the same city, and the fine silver group of Russian peasants driving a sleigh, by
M. Goobkin. We remark in the Russian goldsmiths' work a curious retention of the old
Byzantine style, especially in the metal book-covers, minutely chased and containing coloured
representations of the Virgin and child, our Saviour, &c, inlaid precisely after the manner of
the purest old Byzantine works. Besides the enamelling, which is a special feature in these
productions, the ornament consists of devices executed in niello, engraving, and tasteful combi-
nations of silver oxidized, burnished, blackened, and gilt. The designs evince great originality
as well as a good eye for form. The caviare jars on stands, with spoons arranged in a rack
around them and furnished with little figures on the covers, are peculiarly characteristic; and
as regards the niello-work of M. Sazikoff on spoons, cups, boxes and an infinity of small objects,
we cannot speak too highly.
Tooke, in his "View of the Russian Empire," A.D. 1799, observes that TJstiug, in the govern-
ment of Wologda, was particularly famoits for its " silver snuffboxes, &c, with engraved figures
blackened, of which art they make a great mystery. These figures, and even whole landscapes
and maps, are graved in silver, and the lines drawn over with melted sulphur, which fixes them
black, and the whole work is afterwards polished." Thus we see that with other arts which
were commonly practised in the Middle Ages, and which have only lately been revived among
us, the Russians have kept up an uninterrupted series of works founded on traditional principles;
and this is less to be wondered at considering how much they have been preserved from the
changes of European fashion, how intimately they have been connected with the East, that
paradise of conservatives, and from the fact of their being possessed of some of the most
remarkable and elaborate specimens of ancient art, especially in goldsmith's work, still to be
found in Europe, such as the magnificent pieces in the Imperial treasury, the cup of Vladimir
Monomaclms, the cleft crown of the Empress Anna Joannovna, the grand imperial orb and
cross, the orb of the Tsar Alexis Michaelovitch, the splendid state sceptres and thrones of
Michael Theodorovitch, the gold throne sent by Shah Abbas to the Tsar Boris Godunov, and
the series of gifts sent from Constantinople on the occasion of the marriage of the Grand-Duke
John III. with the Princess Sofia Pala?ologus. Such fine examples of the goldsmith's art could
not but affect the national style, and we are greatly indebted to the Russian Government for
the splendid publication in which they are reproduced.