Lot 403
An early 20th century Russian silver and enamel mounted desk pad holder
Jewellery, Watches & Silver | 622
Auction: Jewellery, Watches & Silver
Description
Ivan Britzin, St Petersburg, 88 standard circa 1908-1917, mounted to a wooden plinth, the hinged notepad stand of rectangular form, with blue enamel ground and white enamel border, the finial modelled as a bud
Dimensions
Length: 23cm
Footnote
Ivan Britzin was born in the Moscow province, but was apprenticed in St. Petersburg where he opened his own workshop in 1870. It is believed he did work for Fabergé. His production was of high quality but tended to be on the simple side with mainly guilloche enamel pieces, especially cigarette cases, picture frames, powder boxes and clocks. Thanks to their fine quality, his pieces gained an international popularity and were retailed in Kiev and also London. Britzin’s firm can be considered one of Fabergé’s leading competitors.
In 1917 the outbreak of the Russian Revolution forced the company to close. After the Revolution Britzin kept working for several jewellers Artels until his death in 1952.