SOLD OUT - Vasiliy Agofonov Russian silver an enamel salt

Antique 19th-century Russian silver gilt and enamel salt

Made in Russia, Moscow, Circa 1900.
Maker: bVasiliy Agofonov.

Marked 84 for Russian silver with maker’s mark “VA” fo Vasiliy Agofonov.

Dimensions:
Weight: 97grams
Length: 6.9 cm
Width:6.2 cm
Height:5.2 cm

Condition: Salt cellar is pre - owned, age related wear, otherwise good condition overall.

Vasily Agafonov was a nineteenth-century Russian silversmith and enamel artist.

He was born in Rostov-on-Don in 1824 and started his career as an apprentice to his father, who was also a silversmith.
Afterwards, Agafonov relocated to Moscow, where he created his own workshop and acquired a reputation for his expertise in enamelling and silver design.

His Moscow workshop hired talented craftsmen and artisans who assisted him in the creation of some of his most intricate and masterfully constructed items.

Agafonov excelled in enamelling, which entails fusing coloured glass onto metal surfaces to produce elaborate shapes and patterns. To obtain distinct effects and textures in his enamel work, he employed a range of methods including as cloisonné, champlevé, and plique-à-jour.

Apart from his enamel work, Agafonov made a broad range of silver artefacts, like as tea sets, candelabras, and other ornamental pieces.
He often included classic Russian symbols into his designs, such as the double-headed eagle and the onion dome, giving his work a particular national flavour.

Over the nineteenth century, Agafonov's reputation as a master silversmith and enamelist increased, and he gained several prizes and distinctions for his work. He earned the Order of St. Vladimir and the Order of St. Anne from the Russian Imperial Court, in addition to the gold medal he won at the Vienna World's Fair in 1873.

Despite his success, Agafonov had difficulties as a silversmith in Russia in the later part of the nineteenth century. Several artisans abandoned traditional methods in favour of more contemporary ones due to economic difficulties and shifting interests in the decorative arts. Agafonov, on the other hand, remained dedicated to his trade, and his work remained highly respected for its technical expertise and creative worth. His works are now regarded as some of the best examples of Russian decorative arts from the nineteenth century.