About this lot

Description

A 48 piece harlequin set of 19th century Russian metalwares flatware, retailed by Shanks & Co, 'Fiddle' style pattern with chamfered edge, comprising twelve table forks and twelve dessert forks, Moscow 1890, with marks for Assay Master Lev Fridrikhovitch Oleks, twelve table spoons, Moscow 1889, with marks for Assay Master Anatoly Apollonovich Artsybashev and twelve dessert spoons, Moscow 1889, with marks for Assay Master Lev Fridrikhovitch Oleks, all marked 84 zolotniki indicating a minimum silver standard of 875/1000 and monogrammed, 94ozt gross and encased in an oak and leather lined table top canteen with lift up lid (48)
Provenance: Purchased in Moscow at the turn of the century by the vendor's grandfather, Mr Boon, who had his surname initial applied. James Steuart Shanks was born in 1824 and in 1845 received a large inheritance on the death of his uncle. In 1851 in London, he met with Henrik Konrad Bolin. At that time both Bolin and Fabergé were jewellers to the royal court. In 1852, Bolin moved to Moscow where, with Shanks, they founded 'Shanks & Bolin, Magasin Anglais'. It was described as an outfitters in the style of Liberty of London, and the partners aimed their new shop at Moscow's newly emerging middle classes. In 1886, Shanks' cousin Allan Bowe, met Carl Fabergé and in 1887 he went into partnership with him - setting up the Fabergé shop across the road from Shanks. Shanks' business would have had close relations with Fabergé's business once Allan was managing the local Fabergé shop and at its height Shanks was competing directly with Fabergé to supply the aristocracy and new rich of Moscow. Bolin died in 1888 and the company partnership came to an end, with Shanks continuing the business under the name of Shanks & Co.

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