Important Silversmiths – Ivan Khlebnikov
19th Century Imperial Russian Silver and cloissoné enamel Kovsh, the bowl with a wide rim border of vibrant polychrome lobes and leafy flourishes, the interior decorated with a round floral motifs, cartouche-form handle, volute scroll prow, standing on three ball shaped feet. Hallmarked Russian silver 88, Maker's mark for Ivan Khlebnikov.
Reference Number: A4209
Ivan Khlebnikov (in Russian: Иван Хлебников)was born in St. Petersburg, son of a diamond and jewellery merchant. By 1865 he had his own jewellery firm, where he employed his sons Mikhail, Alexei and Nikolai.
In 1871 Ivan opened a factory in Moscow, employing around 200 artisans.
Within the premises of his factory he also opened a school of design and sculpture for thirty-five students.
Khlebnikov received several commissions from the Imperial family and in 1872 he was appointed official purveyor of Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich.
20th Century Imperial Russian silver & plique-a-jour enamel bowl, the sides with polychrome panels of stylized flowers and scrolls in red, green, yellow, blue, purple and brown. Inbetween decorated with gilded flutes, shaped rim and spreading foot, the inside decorated with a white enamel boarder.
Hallmarked Russian silver 84 (875 standard), Moscow, year 1908-1917, Maker’s mark for Ivan Khlebnikov.
Reference Number: A4337
19th Century Russian pan-Slavic silver-gilt & cloisonne' enamel large caviar serving spoon, the round bowl is applied on reverse with multi-coloured champleve enamel scrolls and cockerels on matted silver gilt ground withing blue and triangular boarders. The handle is decorated on both sides in complimentary style with two vacant cartooches, the spoon comes in its original leather bound presentation box.
Hallmarked Russian silver 88 (915), Moscow, year 1878, Assay master Victor Savinsky, Makers Mark NX for Ivan Khlebnikov.
Reference Number: A5333
His artworks were displayed in several International Exhibitions, such as the one in Vienna in 1873 where he won two medals.
The firm’s popularity grew and Khlebnikov was appointed a royal warrant by the sovereigns of Denmark, Netherlands, Serbia and Montenegro. In 1879 he was awarded the title of official supplier to the Imperial court of Russia.
At Ivan’s death in 1881, his sons took over the business, employed more craftsmen and expanded the company buying Sazikov factories and shops.
The company was closed and nationalised in 1918, with the outbreak of the Russian Revolution.
Khlebnikov artworks were acclaimed for their fine decorative enamel work and the traditional Russian style. The company worked in all kinds of enamel, especially plique-à-jour and cloisonné, and reinterpreted the traditional Russian folk art through original and unique designs, a colorful palette and great mastery of execution.