This antique Imperial Russian gilt silver egg pendant showcases colorful polychrome cloisonné enamels depicting a cute polka dot ornament produced by an outstanding jeweler, Ivan Khlebnikov.
Dimensions:
Height (excluding suspension ring): 24 mm
Width: 16.6 mm
Weight: 7 gr
The following marks are visible on the hanging ring of the pendant: an image of the number 84, indicating a standard of silver. The Cyrillic letters "И.Х" are the name of the master maker "I. Kh" According to official reference books, the Cyrillic initials "И.Х" belong to a great jeweler Ivan Khlebnikov.
Ivan Petrovich Khlebnikov was born in 1819. His father, Pyotr Khlebnikov, had his jewelry production. Young Ivan worked in his father's organization from a young age and then ran his business. Ivan Petrovich was 52 years old when he opened the Moscow Jewelry Factory in 1871. Ivan Petrovich, who had been engaged in the trade of precious works for about 40 years, acquired outstanding technical knowledge in many areas of jewelry art. Khlebnikov's fame and success grew incredibly quickly. A year after the opening, the organization officially began to present jewelry to the court of Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich, brother of Emperor Alexander II. A year later, Khlebnikov's products were highly appreciated in Europe. By the time of his death in 1881, Ivan Khlebnikov had served as the official supplier of the Imperial Russian family, the Grand Dukes, and the sovereigns of Denmark, the Netherlands, Serbia, and Montenegro. Khlebnikov’s international acclaim stemmed from the numerous exhibitions he participated in, especially those in Vienna (1873) and Moscow (1872) - he won two gold medals at each of these. His company was known for producing decorative silver and enamel work which reinvented traditional Russian style and folk art through originality and a colorful palette. In particular, Khlebnikov was known for immaculate plique-à-jour and cloisonné enamel, and for works produced in the Russian and Modern styles.
In the last photo, we have given examples of all the hallmarks of the Khlebnikov factory, which was produced from 1874 to 1917. And these are not even all the known examples. The enterprise, unfortunately for collectors, used a large number of hallmark punches. The coat of arms of the Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich can be displaced next to the manufacturer's name, and the double-headed eagle appeared in 1879. The hallmark on our egg pendant in Cyrillic "И.Х" (in the last photo, number 1) was put from 1874 to 1879. After the death of Ivan Petrovich in 1882, the short hallmark with initials was not put, but only Cyrillic «ХЛЕБНИКОВЪ» или «ХЛЕБНИКОВЪ СЪ СЫНми и К°». The methodology for studying hallmarks developed at the Moscow State Research Institute of Restoration and the constantly expanding database allows for a comparative analysis of hallmarks of both the names and assay supervision. For example, the hallmarks (in the last photo, 1 and 5), despite all the apparent differences, were affixed by the same hallmark punch but with different striking forces.
Overall, the item is in good antique condition, showing signs of age.
Please note: Works attributed to Karl Fabergé, the Fabergé workshops and their associated workmasters, as well as other objects produced during the Imperial Russian period of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, were not originally accompanied by certificates of authenticity at the time of manufacture.
Attribution and opinions regarding authenticity are based on examination of original maker’s and assay marks, analysis of materials and workmanship, assessment of construction techniques, and comparison with documented examples published in recognized scholarly literature and archival sources. Such evaluations represent informed expert opinion in accordance with accepted practices within the field of Russian Imperial decorative arts.