Russian Decorative Arts is an informative guide to Russian artworks and their historical context written by Russian Art consultant Cynthia Coleman Sparke. Published by Antique Collectors' Club, the book covers a wide range of crafts from Fabergé, jewellery, woodwork, hard stone, glass and porcelain to precious metals, explained against the fascinating backdrop of Russian history. Each topic is detailed with an illustrated chapter which introduces the creative technique, its specific Russian characteristics and an overview of the principle makers.
Pre-Revolutionary Russia is explored through the glittering artefacts of the Tsarist era from as far back as the 16th and 17th centuries and focusing in particular on works created in the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries.
John Barber, an expert familiar to viewers of the UK’s popular Antiques Road Show commented about the book earlier this month: ‘There was a need for an overall book on the decorative arts of Imperial Russia.’
Cynthia Coleman Sparke was born into to a family of Russian art collectors and has lived on and off in Moscow and St Petersburg. After running the Russian department at Christie's New York, she worked with the Fabergé and Imperial porcelain holdings of the Hillwood Museum in Washington D.C. (the largest collection of Russian decorative arts outside of Russia). Later, Cynthia worked on a project in St Petersburg at the Alexander Palace in Tsarskoe Selo, helping with the restoration of Tsar Nicholas II's last residence - the subject of her Master's thesis from the Bard Graduate Centre. She is currently a consultant for Bonhams auctioneers, specialising in Russian works of art.
This book is ideal for newcomer and connoisseur alike. It retails at £55, but is offered with a 20% discount, plus postage, from the publishers. To order a copy or for more information, please contact: sue.slee@antique-acc.com or +44 1394 389977 and quote the code RDA1.
Fabergé collections are available online or in our international boutiques.
