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240
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THE CANE GIVEN BY THE COMPOSER MIKHAÏL VIELGORSKI (1788-1856…
See original version (French)
240
-
THE CANE GIVEN BY THE COMPOSER MIKHAÏL VIELGORSKI (1788-1856…
See original version (French)
Estimate €6,000 - €8,000
Voluntary lot
Description
THE CANE GIVEN BY THE COMPOSER MIKHAÏL VIELGORSKI (1788-1856) TO THE PAINTER HORACE VERNET (1789-1863)
A shepherd's ceremonial cane-axe known as a "ciupaga", the head of the axe in silver (875 thousandths) with engraved and chased decoration of foliage, the back engraved in intaglio with the arms of the Vielgorski family (in Polish, Wielhorski) under a count's crown, in the first azure three fleurs-de-lys in pale, in the second gules; The silver ferrule (875 thousandths) engraved with the recipient's name "à Horace / Vernet", the mahogany handle, the brass ferule. Good condition, one screw missing, another screw attached.
Saint Petersburg, circa 1840.
Goldsmith: Carl TEGELSTEN (1798-1852).
CT" stamp in a rectangular cartouche, no title, city or date stamp.
Length 91.5 cm. Gross weight: 676.3 g.
History
The type of object, the presence of the coat of arms of the Counts Vielgorsky (Wielhorski in Polish), the hallmark of a St Petersburg master goldsmith and the first and last names of the famous French military painter Horace Vernet (1789-1863) undoubtedly refer to his trip to Russia in 1842-1843. A perusal of his private letters tells us that at the beginning of his stay in St Petersburg, Horace Vernet befriended Mikhail Vielglorsky (1788-1856) of Polish origin (Wielhorski), a composer of operas and symphonies based in St Petersburg. The relationship became so strong that the musician offered hospitality to the painter, who became a full member of the Vielgorsky family, as evidenced by an anecdote told by the painter about the gift of a dog from one of the count's sons. He was also very close to and highly esteemed by the Tsar of Russia, who gave him a porcelain vase decorated with the imperial coat of arms.
In the light of all these elements, this historical object can be understood as a gift from the Count to the painter in memory of his "Russian family", among whom he lived until his departure in 1843.
Literature
- Théophile Sylvestre ; [preface by Champfleury], Lettres intimes de M.Horace Vernet pendant son voyage en Russie (1842 et 1843) ; Fragments inédits d'une " Histoire des artistes vivants ", Paris, 1856.
- M. M. Postnikova-Loseva, N. G. Platonova, B. L. Ulyanova, Commerce de l'or et de l'argent des XV-XX siècles, ed. M.Yunves, Trio , 1995, n°1412, p. 185.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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