Silver Enamel Goblet. 20th Artel Of Moscow Russia, Moscow, Early 20th Century

An elegant silver goblet of cylindrical form with a slightly flared rim represents a striking example of artistic silverwork by the 20th Moscow Jewellery Artel of the early 20th century, executed in the style of Russian Art Nouveau. The body is decorated with polychrome cloisonne enamel arranged in a rhythmic system of gadrooned panels featuring stylised floral and vegetal motifs, complemented by geometric elements. The ornament is emphasised by filigree partitions and silver granulation. The upper rim is adorned with translucent plique-a-jour enamel inserts with geometric patterns. The polylobed circular foot is enriched with enamel ornament on a light blue ground. Gilt silver interior. Hallmarks: Mark "20th Moscow Artel", period 1908-1917; state assay mark "84" zolotnik standard with a kokoshnik head facing right and cipher of the Moscow Assay Office; mark of the Moscow Assay Office. Dimensions: Height: 6.2 cm; Diameter: 7.5 cm. Weight: 112 g. Condition: Good condition. Minor wear consistent with age. Enamels well preserved, without losses. Provenance: Private European collection.

The Moscow jewellery artels of the early 20th century represent a distinctive phenomenon in the history of Russian decorative and applied arts, uniting highly skilled craftsmen during a period of profound economic and social transformation in the late Russian Empire. Established after 1908, these artels continued the traditions of leading Moscow silver firms, maintaining high standards of artistic and technical execution. The 20th Moscow Artel specialised in the production of artistic silver with enamels, developing the traditions of the Moscow school of cloisonne enamel of the late 19th century. Its works are characterised by rich polychromy, complex ornamental programmes and the active use of decorative techniques, including filigree, granulation and plique-a-jour. Within the context of Russian Art Nouveau, such objects demonstrate a refined synthesis of national ornamental motifs and the innovative artistic language of the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Goblets of this type combined functional purpose with a pronounced decorative character and were intended for representative interiors, commemorative gifts or private collections. Works of the 20th Moscow Artel dating from 1908-1917 are regarded today as significant testimonies to the final flowering of traditional Russian jewellery art on the eve of the revolutionary transformations.