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tradetalkRussian Silver Book ReviewRussian Silver in America Surviving the Melting PotBy Anne Odom This is a fascinating, informative book that reveals the story of Russian silver (and some gold) and its makers from the 17th century onwards. It opens with the transition from Russian styles towards those of the Western Europe and takes us through Baroque, Rococo and the Neo-classical styles of the 18th and early 19th centuries and then onto the Empire and revival styles of 19th century Europe. It also looks at the 19th century Russian revival style and the work of Carl Faberg until the revolution and what happened afterwards. Of course it also looks at American collecting of Russian silver in the 20th century and relates how the sales by the Russian government allowed American collectors to acquire pieces. It is fitting that Hillwood is the guardian of so many of the pieces as it is the former home and collection of Marjorie Merriweather Post who, as wife of Ambassador Joseph Davies, was in Moscow in the late 1930s and able toSilver gilt and Niello Vodka set, Moscow 1880s Firm of Khlebnikov Fedor Kirillovich Iartsov (active 1881-96) maker Fig. 133 from book

Three beakers Left: Moscow 1750s, silver, parcel gilt, 19.2cm Gavrila Grigorev Serebrennikov (active 1750s) Centre: Silver beaker with cover, Moscow 1750, 31.3cm Right: Silver beaker Moscow, 1751, 18.1cm Andrei Kostrinskii (active 1739-76) Fig. 43 from book

buy some of the silver directly from the State store rooms, thus saving them from being melted down. She went on to build up her collection of Russian Decorative Arts so that today Hillwood has the most comprehensive collection of Russian imperial art outside of Russia.Chalice, St Petersburg 1791, gold, diamonds and carved stones, 33 cm, Iver Windfeldt Buch (1749-1811) Fig. 89 from book

Hillwood Museum and Gardens Foundation Washington DC In association with D Giles Limited, London, 45.

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JULY 2011