Loading

Casket with a Miniature of Kuzma Minin at Nizni Novgorod

1908-1917

The Walters Art Museum

The Walters Art Museum
Baltimore, United States

Portrayed is an event that had occurred during Russia's "Time of Troubles" in the early 17th century. The merchant Kuzma Minin stands in the town square exhorting the citizens of Nizhnii Novgorod to donate their valuables in order to finance a volunteer army. Even the children in the foreground are surrendering their toys. Led by Prince Dmitrii Pozharskii (1577-1642), the army expelled the Poles from Moscow in August, 1612. The victory resulted in Michael Romanov being elected tsar the following year, thereby founding the Romanov dynasty. This box was probably intended to commemorate the Tercentenary of the dynasty in 1913.

The outward flaring sides of the box are decorated in painted enamel with patterns of cloud berries and curvilinear motifs as well as with tightly wound filigree and distinctive hatch marks.

Details

  • Title: Casket with a Miniature of Kuzma Minin at Nizni Novgorod
  • Creator: Workshop of Fedor Ivanovich Rückert (Russian, 1840-1917)
  • Date Created: 1908-1917
  • External Link: For more information about this and thousands of other works of art in the Walters Art Museum collection, please visit art.thewalters.org
  • Roles: Workmaster: Workshop of Fedor Ivanovich Rückert (Russian, 1840-1917), Manufacturer: Peter Carl Fabergé (1846-1920)
  • Provenance: Jean M. Riddell, Washington, D.C. [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 2010, by bequest.
  • Object Type: boxes; caskets (personal gear)
  • Medium: silver gilding, painted matte and painted filigree enamel
  • Inscriptions: [Marks] In Cyrillic with Imperial warrant: K. Faberge; [Symbols] kokoshnik right, 88, delta, circular kokoshnik; [Marks] On lid in Cyrillic with Imperial warrant: K Faberge, 88; [Inventory number] 38036
  • Exhibitions: Old Russian Enamels. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond. 1987.
  • Dimensions: H: 2 15/16 x W: 6 1/2 x D: 4 15/16 in. (7.5 x 16.5 x 12.5 cm)
  • Credit Line: Bequest of Mrs. Jean M. Riddell, 2010
  • Classification: Enamels
  • Accession Number: 44.925

Additional Items

Get the app

Explore museums and play with Art Transfer, Pocket Galleries, Art Selfie, and more

Flash this QR Code to get the app
Google apps