Russian Easter Eggs and Art Treasures

Art and antiques from Russia have made quite a splash at Bruun Rasmussen’s auctions in recent years, and we have become one of Scandinavia's leading auction houses within this field. At this summer’s traditional auction in Copenhagen and a subsequent online auction we present a large selection of Russian art and antiques primarily from before the revolution in 1917.

"Historically, Russia's designers and artisans are known for exquisite traditions with decorative art, the use of precious materials and a lavishly artistic expression. The Russian Tsar family were the buyers of the finest achievements, and the family was famous for the riches they had placed in the palaces around the country. The colourful and often richly decorated Easter eggs stand as the epitome of Russian culture, and at this auction they are represented in the form of three pendants made of enamel and precious stones that have been owned by the Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna," says Martin Hans Borg, Russian art expert at Bruun Rasmussen. 

The Russian Tsar family had a strong tradition of giving gifts to high-ranking people in society and to other royal houses around Europe. The auction illustrates this tradition in the form of a parcel-gilt silver kovsh, which Tsaritsa Anna Ioannovna gave to the Cossack leader Ekim Petrov in 1737. Included in the auction is also a cigarette case of hammered gold that was given as a gift to Baron N. Gersdorff in 1910 by Tsaritsa Maria Feodorovna, and a tie pin made of gold, which the Danish driver Niels Peter Emil Poulsen received for his services to Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich during one of the Grand Duke’s visits to Denmark.

Russian Fine Art

At the auction, you will also be met by a group of smiling young Russian girls with traditional, colourful headscarves, as well as a harmonica player and kids on sledges. It is the artist Feodor Vasilievich Sychkov who in 1934 depicted the lively scene of a small snowy village. Another smiling Russian can be seen in Abram Efimovich Arkiphov's work from 1904. The painting has been owned by the Dane Johan Paul Quaade, who for many years worked for the Danish "Siberian Company" in Russia. We go even further back in Russian art history with a number of icons, such as a large church icon from the 1700s with 23 scenes from the life of the Prophet Elijah and Alexei Fedorov Kolotochin's Mother of God icon "Vladimirskaja" from the second half of the 19th century.

A Soldier from Crimea and Art from Fabergé

At last autumn’s Russian sale, Nicolai Ivanovich Liberich’s bronze sculpture was among the true surprises since it achieved a hammer price of DKK 1.12 million. This time we can present a large bronze sculpture by Ivan Fedorovich Kovshenkov from 1856, which depicts a soldier from the Crimean War. When speaking of Russian culture, Fabergé inevitably comes up, and the auction is also characterized by many artefacts from this jeweller in St. Petersburg, for example, a wonderful diamond brooch, a white enamel desk clock and a large kovsh shaped as a rooster.

Exhibition in London

Prior to this auction, we can present an exhibition with Russian art and artefacts on 1-4 June at the Shapero Modern Gallery, 32 George Street in London in connection with the Russian Art Week. 

Auction in Copenhagen

Bruun Rasmussen Auctioneers, Bredgade 33, Copenhagen

Preview: 24-28 June

Traditional auction: 8 June at 2 pm

Online auction: 11 June at 5 pm