A PAIR OF RUSSIAN ORMOLU-MOUNTED CUT-GLASS VASES

With their delicately chased mounts and finely faceted glass bodies, these vases are exemplary of the sumptuous works produced by the Imperial Glass factory in Russia in the early 19th century. This model’s swans neck handles and classical silhouette demonstrate the strong influences of contemporary French Empire works of art on the Russian manufactory and doubtless led to its popularity in the first decades of the 19th century. A pair of related vases is in the State History Museum, Moscow (illustrated A. Gaydamak, Russian Empire, Moscow, 2000, p. 84). An additional pair sold Christie’s, London, 7 July 2005, lot 479 (£30,000) and a single Christie’s, London, 10 June 2004, lot 88 (£31,070).