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Several times a year, Marie designs a postcard featuring
her most recent acquisitions of jewelry, Fabergé, Russian antiques
and other objets de vertu. Now, these exciting discoveries
may be seen on this frequently updated page. You may also request
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Russian Silver “Warrior at the Crossroads” Box
A hinged rectangular wooden box in red lacquer, the cover applied with a depiction of Victor Vasnetsov’s epic painting “Warrior at the Crossroads” vitiaz na rasputie, 1878, in repoussé silver
by the 11th Artel, Moscow, circa 1890
14 ½ x 9 ½ x 2 ¾ in. (36.8 x 24.1 x 7 cm.) including feet
Provenance: From the private collection of the late George Zaharoff
The Vasnetsov canvas, which was exhibited in Moscow in 1882, reflected the pessimistic mood in the ancient capital at the time following the assassination of Tsar Alexander II a year earlier. Surrounded by symbols of impending doom (human and horses' skulls and a black raven flying over deserted steppes) a well-armored Kievan knight sits on a horse pondering an inscription on a boulder which promises the warrior a gloomy future no matter what path is chosen.
Rendered faithfully in silver, the stone is etched in Old Church Slavonic: “If you go straight, you will not live, regardless of whether you choose to ride, walk or fly.”
For more information,
click here.
 
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