Gatchina Priory, south of St Petersburg, was built for Tsar Paul I (reigned 1796-1801) in the Gothic style, which has also been adopted for this casket. The casket, which may have been made in either Rome or St Petersburg, belonged to Grand Duchess Olga (1822-92), the daughter of Tsar Nicholas I. Her profile appears in the centre of the 'Table with trees from the Two Sicilies' (Loan:Gilbert.190:1,2-2008).
Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996.
Physical description
A rectangular gilt-bronze casket. The sides have vertical sections in relief with arches above and below and a central oval reserve. Each side has five sections with mosaics in the central three ovals. The casket's ends are in three sections with the central one having a mosaic. Each mosaic depicts playing putti. The top of the casket is decorated win relief with arcs, arches, fleur-de-lis and leaf motifs. In the centre is set a rectangular mosaic showing a building (the Gothic-style priory at Gatchina) in a wood on the far bank of a pond.
Place of Origin
St. Petersburg, Russia (mosaic and possibly casket, made)
Rome, Italy (possibly (casket), made)
Date
ca. 1800 (made)
ca. 1800-1850 (made)
Artist/maker
Wekler, Georgi Ferdinand (probably, mosaicist)
Materials and Techniques
Repoussé gilt bronze and micromosaic
Dimensions
Height: 13.3 cm, Width: 23.5 cm, Depth: 14.8 cm, Weight: 4660 g
Object history note
Provenance: Grand Duchess Olga Württemberg. Jacques Kugel, Paris.
Historical significance: Gatchina Priory, south of St Petersburg, was the palace of Tsar Paul I (reigned 1796-1801) in the Gothic style, which has also been adopted for this casket. It was originally constructed as a gift for Prince Grigori Orlov (1734-83), a favourite of Catherine the Great (r.1762-96).
Historical context note
Grand Duchess Olga (1822-92) was the daughter of Tsar Nicholas I. Giorgio Ferdinand Wekler (1800-1861) became the first Master of Mosaics at the Imperial Academy of Arts, St Petersburg, in 1822.
Descriptive line
Russian jewel casket, gilt bronze and micromosaic. Mosaic: St. Petersburg, attributed to Georgi Ferdinand Wekler, ca.1825; casket Rome or St. Petersburg, ca. 1825.
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Gabriel, Jeanette Hanisee with contributions by Anna Maria Massinelli and essays by Judy Rudoe and Massimo Alfieri. Micromosaics: The Gilbert Collection. London: Philip Wilson Publishers Ltd. in association with The Gilbert Collection, 2000. 310 p., ill. Cat. no. 39, pp. 95-96. ISBN 0856675113.
Gonzalez-Palacios, Alvar and Steffi Röttgen with essays by Steffi Röttgen, Claudia Przyborowski; essays and new catalogue material translated by Alla Theodora Hall. The Art of Mosaics: Selections from the Gilbert Collection. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1982. 224 p., ill. Cat. no. 53. ISBN 0875871097.
Gonzalez- Palacios, Alvar. The Art of Mosaics: Selections from the Gilbert Collection, Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1977. 143 p., ill. Cat. no. 49. ISBN: 0875870805.
Schroder, Timothy, ed. The Gilbert Collection at the V&A. London (V&A Publishing) 2009, p. 77, plate 59. ISBN9781851775934
Labels and date
Casket with Gatchina Priory
Mosaic: about 1825. Casket: 1800-50
Gatchina Priory, south of St Petersburg, was built for Tsar Paul I (reigned 1796-1801) in the Gothic style, which has also been adopted for this casket. The casket belonged to Grand Duchess Olga (1822-92), the daughter of Tsar Nicholas. Her profile appears in the centre of the 'Table with trees of the Two Sicilies' displayed on the gallery's east wall.
Mosaic: St Petersburg, Russian; probably Georgi Ferdinand Wekler (1800-61)
Casket: Rome, Italy
Glass micromosaic and gilded bronze
Museum no. Loan: Gilbert. 220-2008.
Production Note
Mosaic: about 1825; Casket: 1800-50
Materials
Mosaic glass; Gilt bronze
Techniques
Gilding; Repoussé; Micromosaic
Subjects depicted
Landscape; Putti; Fleurs-de-lis; Pond; Priory
Categories
Containers; Metalwork
Collection code
MET
