Russian Items

Russia boasts a long and rich artistic lineage. This lineage is reflected across a variety of media and disciplines and stretches back more than 20,000 years to stone statuettes found in Siberia. Russia is the home of literary greats including Vladimir Nabokov and Leo Tolstoy, and is arguably the birthplace of minimalism with Kazimir Malevich and abstract artwork from Wassily Kandinsky. This incredible degree of craft and ingenuity is manifested in their indigenous artifacts, as well as some of the finest silver and gemstone artifacts found anywhere.

Samovars, large vessels used to brew tea, are some of the most prized Russian artifacts. Imported from Mongolia during the 17th century, these vessels were traditionally forged in silver and adorned with elaborate engravings. Jewels that once belonged to Russian royalty, such as the Imperial Orb of Catherine the Great and the Orlov Diamond, are some of the most famous and treasured artifacts found anywhere in the world today.

In contrast to the ornate and opulent objects once owned by the ruling class, Russia also has a longstanding and vibrant tradition of crafts made by the native peoples of Siberia. These artifacts are some of the oldest creations of mankind, and equally beautiful for their austere and rough-hewn aesthetic.

Quick Facts

• In 2011, Christie's sold a 19th century silver samovar for more than $140,000
• Auctions comprised of Russian fine art and antiquities routinely fetch tens of millions of dollars, demonstrating the perpetual appeal of these kinds of objects
• Matryoshkas, or Russian nesting dolls, consist of a set of wooden dolls of decreasing size one placed inside another. They are a traditional peasant craft that has become popular with collectors throughout the world