32 - GRACHEV BROTHERS FIRM

GRACHEV BROTHERS FIRM MAGNIFICENT PAIR OF CRYSTAL TAZZAS ON SILVER STANDS. BRATYA GRACHEVY FIRM RUSSIA, SAINT PETERSBURG, LATE 19TH CENTURY. An exceptional museum-quality pair of ceremonial tazzas, created in the workshop of the Bratya Grachevy firm, official Purveyors to the Imperial Court, and reflecting the highest achievements of Russian jewellery and silversmithing art of the late nineteenth century. The composition is built on a striking contrast between the massive cut-crystal bowls and the sculptural silver stands, formed as stylised dolphins. The figures are rendered in dynamic movement, with finely chased scales and expressively modelled heads and fins. The dolphins’ tails support shell-shaped elements that form a refined transition between the stands and the bowls, lending the ensemble a harmonious and sculpturally unified silhouette. Each stand rests on three twisted branches adorned with relief foliage, enhancing the organic quality and decorative richness of the design. The crystal bowls are executed in deep cut techniques, featuring star-shaped rosettes and geometric patterns that create a rich play of light and emphasise the ceremonial character of the objects. Marks: Full maker’s mark “BR. GRACHEVY” with the double-headed eagle, characteristic of the Bratya Grachevy firm, Purveyors to the Imperial Court; state assay mark of the Saint Petersburg Assay Office with the “84” silver standard in an oval cartouche; assay mark with the coat of arms of Saint Petersburg, corresponding to the period of the late 1880s to early 1890s. Dimensions: Height: 23 cm and 25.5 cm (including crystal bowls). Diameter of crystal bowl: 28.8 cm. Weight: Total weight of the silver elements, excluding crystal bowls: 3944 g. Provenance: Private European collection. Width: 28.8cm, Height: 25.5cm, Depth: 60cm, Weight: 6kg, Condition: Good, with traces of use, Material: Silver 84, ID: ID-ANTQ-11847