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PUSS IN BOOTS. SILVER FIGURE WITH MOVABLE HEAD, GÜNTHER GRANGESSEL GERMANY, HANAU, 1883
PUSS IN BOOTS. SILVER FIGURE WITH MOVABLE HEAD, GÜNTHER GRANGESSEL GERMANY, HANAU, 1883
An imposing and ironic silver full-length figure of the fairy-tale character Puss in Boots, executed in 1883 by the master goldsmith Günther Grangessel, in the characteristic Hanau manner of high-quality sculptural silverwork. The cat is depicted as a court majordomo, greeting guests in a courteous half-bow. The movable head enhances the sense of animation and underscores the high level of craftsmanship.The figure holds a staff as a symbol of authority and control, while the gesture of the other paw accentuates the elegant frock coat, lavishly adorned with coloured inserts imitating buttons and decorative elements on the cuffs, lapels, bows and tails. The contrast between the finely modelled fur and the smooth surfaces of the costume creates a striking play of materials. The ironic undertone is reinforced by details in the form of defeated rodents at the base, undermining the character’s ostentatious importance. The expression of the muzzle, with a slight astigmatic gaze and emphasised symmetry of the ears, lends the figure a grotesque, almost caricatural solemnity.Marks: Maker’s mark of Günther Grangessel (Günther Grangessel), Hanau, active in the 1880s – a blooming rosebud, dated 1883; other marks not identified.Dimensions: Height: 47 cm; Width: 30 cm; Depth: 15 cm.Weight: 2137 g.Condition: Good. Natural age-related patina. Minor traces of use consistent with age. Structural elements intact, movable head functioning correctly. No deformations or losses.Provenance: Private European collection.
Begins 03.05.2026
SILVER CLOISONNÉ-ENAMELLED TEA GLASS HOLDER. FYODOR RUCKERT RUSSIA, MOSCOW, TURN OF THE 19TH – 20TH CENTURY
SILVER CLOISONNÉ-ENAMELLED TEA GLASS HOLDER. FYODOR RUCKERT RUSSIA, MOSCOW, TURN OF THE 19TH – 20TH CENTURY
An exquisite silver tea glass holder executed in the cloisonné enamel technique, representing a characteristic and highly accomplished example of the Moscow workshop of Fyodor Ruckert and standing as a benchmark of Russian jewellery art at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. The cylindrical body is adorned with a complex polychrome composition of polylobed medallions featuring stylised geometric and foliate motifs on a cream ground, punctuated by translucent red enamel accents. The ornamentation is further enriched by elegant scrolling flowers and foliage on a sky-blue enamelled background, forming a dense and rhythmically balanced decorative surface.The stepped foot is decorated with a band of polychrome cloisonné enamel forming a foliate frieze on a cobalt-blue ground, enhancing the architectural clarity and completeness of the form. The handle, of complex polylobed profile, is fully enamelled in cloisonné and executed en suite with the body. The interior is gilded, in accordance with the highest aesthetic and practical standards of Moscow silver workshops of the period.Marks: Maker’s mark “FR” in a rectangular cartouche, the mark of the workshop of Fyodor Ruckert; State assay mark of the Moscow Assay District depicting a female head in kokoshnik facing left, within an oval cartouche, with the fineness mark “88” and the initials of the assay master “IL” - Ivan Lebedkin, assay mark type used between 1899 and 1908.Dimensions: Height - 10 cm; Diameter - 7.5 cm.Weight: 196 g (gross).Condition: Good. Minor local losses and small areas of enamel damage consistent with age and use. Gilding to the interior with natural and even wear. No deformation.Provenance: European private collection.
Begins 02.05.2026
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