This exquisite and breathtaking exhibition catalog features a spectacular array of some of the Kremlin museum’s most treasured items, as created by Russian master goldsmiths, Faberg , and contemporary artisans. The catalog opens with a brief article on the history of the Kremlin and the Armory Museums, a time line of Russian political history, and essays on Russian jewelry arts from the 12th through the 20th centuries. The main portion of the catalog is devoted to the dazzling visual array of gold artifacts and objects from the collection, which is currently on display in Houston and will soon travel to Chicago. The photography is clear and focused, highlighting the stunning details of these prized items. The work concludes with sections on mineralogy and the geography of Russia that discuss historic sources for Russian gems and jewels. This delightful catalog should grace the shelves of all libraries featuring decorative arts and jewelry. Enthusiastically recommended.DStephen Allan Patrick, East Tennessee State Univ. Libs., Johnson City
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description
Forewords by Irina Rodimtseva, Truett Latimer, and John W. McCarter, Jr. An icon cover encrusted with rubies and sapphires. A miter festooned with pearls and gold. Two imperial Easter eggs from the Faberg workshop. These are just a few of the objects on view in this breathtaking book of Russian treasures.

The companion volume to a major exhibition opening at The Houston Museum of Natural Science and traveling to The Field Museum, Chicago, Kremlin Gold showcases 120 of the most spectacular objects in the Moscow-Kremlin State Armory Museum. Many of these works, considered national treasures, have never before been seen in the West, and some have never even been displayed in Russia.

Ranging from 11th-century icons to contemporary masterworks, from the buried gold of the Riazan hoard to objects created in the Kremlin’s own workshops, these pieces highlight every facet and every era of Russian jewelry-making, and make this book a stunning gift for anyone interested in Russian history and culture.

310 illustrations, 244 in full color, 9 x 12″

JOEL A. BARTSCH is curator of gems and minerals, The Houston Museum of Natural Science. IRINA RODIMTSEVA is director of The State Historical-Cultural Preserve, Moscow Kremlin.

TRUETT LATIMER is president of The Houston Museum of Natural Science.

JOHN W. McCARTER, JR., is president of The Field Museum, Chicago.

EXHIBITION SCHEDULE The Houston Museum of Natural ScienceApr. 15-Sept. 4, 2000 The Field Museum, ChicagoOct. 21-Mar. 30, 2000

Twentieth century Russian wristwatches are too costly for many native buyers, but they are still inexpensive for Western Collectors, and are becoming extremely popular. Watch faces commemorate all the great moments of Russian and Soviet history-from Yuri Gagarin’s space flight to the Summit meeting between Gorbachev and George Bush-and celebrate Russian culture with images of native costumes from Chechnya to the Ukraine. Collectors have long clamored for a definitive reference and this new book will satisfy even the most avid enthusiast, with photographs of over 500 watches manufactured in Russia and the USSR during the second half of this century, and explanations of their styles, workings, and manufacturers. Poljot, Wostok, and Slava wristwatches are covered, along with a sampling of pocket watches, deck watches, and marine chronometers. This book is a must for serious collectors in the growing field of Russian timekeepers.

The renowned Easter eggs made by Peter Carl Faberge for the czars of Russia lead off this cavalcade of treasures, captured in 277 color plates and two informative essays. Russia’s master goldsmiths and jewelers created marvels in clocks, tableware, scent bottles, opera glasses. They fashioned religious icons and chalices drawing on age-old traditions, and innovated forms in carved hardstone flowers or stone figurines. Objects such as cigarette cases have a distinctively Russian feel, while a striking naturalism was achieved in animal carvings of a hippopotamus or a frog. In their opening essay, Smorodinova and Ulyanova, curators at Moscow’s Historical Museum, offer a thorough survey of this art and discuss pioneers such as Faberge, Pavel Ovchinnokov and Ivan Khlebnikov. Hill, curator of Russian art for Sotheby’s, New York, briefly reviews Faberge’s life and artistic sources.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. –This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal
“Exquisite from cover to cover” is the description best suited to this lavishly illustrated volume on the unique creations of Faberge’s workshop and of lesser-known contemporaries, including Khlebnikov, Ovchinnikov, and Sazikov. The introductory text details the smithing techniques they used and the rise to worldwide recognition of the artisans who ultimately played an important role in Russian culture. The primary focus of the book, however, is on the spectacular assortment of treasures they created, including eggs, jewelry, tableware, objets de vitrine, and objets de luxe. The objets d’art are arranged by category, with firm, master craftsman, date, size, and brief description offered for each. Highly recommended.
- Stephen Allan Patrick, East Tennessee State Univ., Johnson City
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.