Description
One of his most important actions was the opening of a education center at its factory in Moscow, where the apprentices could study drawing techniques, modeling and jewelry further the others school subjects.
Ovchinnikov was the first russian producer to understand the importance of education, not only for the chiefs of his factories but also for the workers.
Pavel Ovchinnikov made an important contribution to the development of the artistic enamel in Russia. The masters of his firm had a great mastery in different enamel processing techniques: champleé, on watermark and cloisonné (Ovchinnikov was the first to bring back to vogue these techniques in Europe).
Pavel Ovchinnikov (1830 – 1888) – Russian silver tea set with enamel it is an excellent and collectible piece.
The rise of the jewelry industry in Russia
In Russia, during the XIX century, the precious objects became accessible goods for almost all the social classes: this turning point was made possible by the industrial development of the national goldsmith’s.
The representatives of this technological revolution, and also a related costumes revolution, were some jewelers and firm chiefs as Ovchinnikov, and before him Sazikov and Gubkin. These men were at the same time metal artisans and entrepreneurs, masters in their crafts but also gifted businessmen with a capitalist’s vision: the union of these gifts led them to turn the old workshops of Moscow and San Petersburg in modern firms with hundreds of workers.
The innovation was so important that, in the middle of XIX century, the distinction between the concepts of art and industry began to fade. The western work organization, the avant-gard machinery and the collaboration of artists and designers perfectly educated were the key factors for the achievement of high artistic standards in the precious objects’ mass production.
Because of these changes the market widened considerably, satisfying the demand of broad population segments, who could now afford quality artifacts for a decent price. The produced objects were mostly silver tools designed in an eclectic and Rococò style, which were very popular in the fifty’s of the nineteenth century.
Nowadays his artworks are in worldwide collections and museums, recognizable for his punches: П.О. or П.Овчинниковъ in a rectangle.
In our Antiques store “Lotus Gallery Art & Antiques” you will find other pieces of Russian art. In our collection there are several sculptures, and many other pieces of Greek art.
Code: C95
