One of the greatest Russian silversmiths has been Pavel Ovchinnikov through most of the Russian silver and enamel history. Not only was he famous for his silversmith working talents, but also this talented man just happened to be vital in the reviving of the traditional techniques in enameling. Pavel Ovchinnikov was instrumental in bring back the Champleve technique, the Filigree technique and the technique of Plique-a-jour.
In the year of 1853, Pavel Ovchinnikov officially opened his workshop within the heart of Moscow, Russia, and this quaint little workshop quickly turned into a very well known Russian silver and enamel-crafting factory. With the process of the bringing back of the Filigree technique, this is a silversmith variation that is very similar to the Cloisonné technique where the silver wires are delicately twisted into detailed workings. With the Plique-a-jour classical technique that Pavel Ovchinnikov brought back that similarly consists of the variation enamel filigree technique that consists of there being no backing of precious metals behind the beautifully colorful enamel, so to allow the light to flow throughout the enamel colors.
By the second part of the century that his original workshop was founded in, he would then be filling the international expositions around the world with a wide variety of his extravagant Russian silver and enamel works of art. It was in one of the American's Chicago International Exhibitions that an American commissioner officially recognized the work of Mr. Ovchinnikov in 1893 for the enamel opaque objects had a wonderful Byzantine style with beauty of formations that carried an excellent richness within the initial coloring.
The silversmith works of Pavel Ovchinnikov is still be auctioned off and collected today, after so long ago that these pieces were originally created. One recent piece of Mr. Ovchinnikov has been a awesomely hand crafted Trompe D'Oeuil Cigarette Case. This magnificent item sold for a whopping 14,000 in American money. The design resembled a cloth that is folded and adorned with all kinds of detailed decorations. The silver body its self delicately resembled a cloth that is woven and the decorations of enamel resembled a common embroidery style that was done during the original time period creation.
Another recently purchased item done directly Mr. Ovchinnikov was auctioned off for 4,500 American dollars. It was also a cigarette case shaped irregularly in cube design and was of the silver medium, and embellished with plants and insects. The top comes completely off when lifted and the inside was elaborated in a Persian carpet fringe like design.
The beauty of Russian silver and enamel can be enjoyed forever with many beautiful collectibles available today to suit all budgets.
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