Browse the sale highlights from STONE IV.

Sale Highlights

By the middle of the 18th century, Russian interest in geological exploration and mineralogy had developed into “a common disease,” in the words of Empress Catherine the Great. The history of stonecutting in Russia begins with one of Catherine’s predecessors, Peter the Great, who in 1721 founded the first Russian lapidary manufacture and hardstone grinding mill, in Peterhof, near Saint Petersburg. From then on, the monarchs who ruled Russia encouraged the production of precious gems and rare hardstones sourced in the Russian Empire, namely from the Urals and the Altai mountains. A few years after Peterhof, two other manufactories were founded, Ekaterinbug in 1726 and Kolyvan in 1786 and all three manufactories came under the administration of Aleksandr Stroganov (1733–1811) in 1800, as he was made director of the Imperial Academy of Fine Art. The three lapidary centres reported in via the Academy who trained all their draftsmen and cameo carvers. Thanks to him and to the help of the prolific architect and designer Andrei N. Voronikhin (1759-1814), Russian stone carving was raised to a whole new level and saw its Golden Age in the first half of the 19th century. The Russian taste for unconventional lapidary work, combining innovative forms and rare colours, and sponsored by the Imperial household, resulted in an array of spectacular works which can be seen at its best at the Hermitage. The lots that follow therefore embody the country’s pride in designing and executing exceptional hardstone objects carved out of the beauty sourced in their own soil.

Explore the beauty of Russian hardstones.

Russian Hardstones

STONE IV includes a small group of enamelled and silver-gilt objects, but also inlaid with the vivid blue stone, lapis lazuli, and made by Viennese masters such as Karl Rössler and Hermann Böhm.

The Splendour of Lapis Lazuli

Micromosaics depicting views of the Eternal city or scenes rooted in the Ancient Roman culture were must-have treasured tokens Grand Tourists would take back from their journey to Rome. The painstaking technique, involving creating images with tiny pieces of coloured glass, leaving amateurs and collectors in awe. In the sale, are included beautiful examples of this astonishing art, depicting Antique monuments imbued with the Grandeur of Rome as well as natural subjects or religious scenes.

The lots in this category embody the painstaking technique of micromosaic, involving creating images with tiny pieces of coloured glass, leaving amateurs and collectors in awe.

The Art of Micromosaics

London

The fourth edition of the STONE sale in London will be offering exquisite works of art, objects and pieces of furniture made of, or incorporating, marbles, hardstones and micromosaics. The sale reflects the enduring strength of collecting in this exciting field and explores the incredibly rich use of these materials in European Decorative Arts, with an emphasis on their rarity, colour and craftsmanship. From snuffboxes, caskets, vases, ewers, urns and tazze and panels to larger items such as columns, tables and cabinets, spanning the 17th century through to the 20th century, the STONE sale includes a wide variety of furniture pieces and decorative objects. Sale Number: L23321

Senior Specialist, Head of Furniture, London, Representative for Portugal

João Magalhães 

Associate Specialist | Continental Furniture

Adèle Bourbonne

Head of Vertu and Gold Boxes

Alexandra Starp

Administrator

Robert S. Bergner

Meet our Specialists

For assistance with bidding and registration, please contact: +44 207 293 5000 
 
 <a class="Link" href="mailto:enquiries@sothebys.com">enquiries@sothebys.com</a>

6-18 January 2023 • 14:00 GMT • London

9-19 January 2023 • 14:00 GMT • London

The fourth edition of the STONE sale in London will offer exquisite works of art, objects and pieces of furniture made of, or incorporating, marbles, hardstones and micromosaics. The sale reflects the enduring strength of collecting in this exciting field and explores the incredibly rich use of these materials in European decorative arts, with an emphasis on their rarity, colour and craftsmanship. From snuffboxes, caskets, vases, ewers, urns and tazze and panels to larger items such as columns, tables and cabinets, spanning the 17th century through to the 20th century, the STONE sale includes a wide variety of furniture pieces and decorative objects.