The first silver artel in St. Petersburg 1908-1913

The first silver artel was founded in the early 20th century in St. Petersburg on the basis of the workshop of Julius Rappoport, a famous jeweler and contractor for the firm of Carl Faberge. In 1910, when he retired, Rappoport handed over his workshop to his employees, organizing them into an artel — the first jewelry cooperative association in Russia. The workshop was located at 69 Yekaterininsky Canal. The artel was headed by Matvey Lamb Kempas, and it included craftsmen who had previously worked under Rappoport. The artel operated from 1908 to 1911, fulfilling orders exclusively for the Faberge firm, which supported it financially by providing loans and paying commissions. This cooperation contributed to the stability and high status of the artel in the market. The products of the artel were marked with the hallmark "ICA" and included a wide range of items: from small stationery to complex decorative compositions, such as ceremonial decorations for dining tables (surtout de table). The high quality of the artel′s products ensured its popularity among the aristocracy and the elite. Despite the support of Fabergé, the artel faced internal problems, including disagreements among the craftsmen, an increase in production costs and a decrease in the quality of the products. These factors led to its closure in the period 1912-1913. Among the artel′s products there are items bearing the hallmarks of the Moscow Assay Office, indicating that the item was ordered for the Moscow branch of the Fabergé firm or the move of the artel master who made the jewelry to Moscow.