RUSSIAN ART

RUSSIAN ART AUCTIONS

Putting Russian Art in the spotlight, MILLON auction house has set up a specialised department as of 2018, offering 4 sales a year.

The department specialises in the auction of old and contemporary Russian works of art. Russia's wide-ranging artistic output includes paintings, woodcuts, sculptures, ceremonial costumes, weapons, bronzes, medals, coins, clocks, silverware, drawings, furniture, jewellery, icons and ceramics.

A unique auction department specialising in Russian Art.

Since 2018, the Russian Art auction department has held the French monopoly on the speciality, combining all fields under a common denominator: Russian art.

This vast field is home to many treasures, most of which came to Europe after the October Revolution of 1917. The so-called White Russians fled with their precious objects, some of which can still be found in the families of their descendants, forgotten over the decades. These family heirlooms are still appearing today, and their rediscovery is a major event not only for the market, but also for the enrichment of art history.

Under the guidance ofMariam Varsimashvili, head of the department, and experts Maxime Charron and Maroussia Tarassov-Vieillefon, auctions specialising in Russian art are enjoying undeniable success .

Russian Art at auction

The department organises two catalogued sales featuring the finest lots. Auction-goers are invited to attend these sales in June and November.

Two intermediary online sales punctuate the Russian art calendar, presenting objects from different horizons, accessible to all budgets.

Auctions dedicated to Russian culture are held at the Hôtel Drouot, showcasing a wide range of works of art and paintings. These auctions provide an opportunity to showcase the full range of Slavic artistic production from the 17th century to the present day, including icons, old, modern and contemporary paintings, Fabergé objects, goldsmiths' and silversmiths' wares, miniatures and showcase objects, bronzes, porcelain, folk art and militaria.

These sales specialising in Russian art set records.

Russian Art auctions boast excellent sales results:

• Created in 1325 by King Wladislas I of Poland, the prestigious Order of the White Eagle set in diamonds was awarded to General Albert d'Amade (1856-1941) in 1913 by Emperor Nicholas II. In May 2018, this prestigious ensemble was sold for €1.1 million.
• German-born Féodor Ruckert created a rare enamelled and polychrome vermeil kovchfor Carl Fabergé (1846-1920), decorated with geometric motifs, flowers, lozenges and stylised foliage in the neo-Russian style. Made around 1908-1917 in Moscow, it was sold by the Russian Art department in December 2020 for €201,500.
• The Imperial Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky, a rare diamond knight's jewel for non-Christians presented to Viscount Ichirō Motono (1862-1918), Japanese ambassador to Russia, on 16 October 1916 by Tsar Nicholas II of Russia (1896-1918), was sold for €105,000 in 2023 by the Russian Art department of our MILLON auction house .
• The famous painter Ivan Aivazovsky was a tireless traveller. After Constantinople and Gibraltar, he arrived in Egypt in 1869 as part of the Russian delegation to the opening ceremony of the Suez Canal. Our oil on canvas, An Oasis in Egypt, is a striking example of a lesser-known part of Ivan Aivazovsky's output. It reveals all the virtuosity of his unrivalled quality as a colourist. In June 2021, it sold for a hammer price of 96,000 euros.

A department at your service to showcase your finest objects.

The department is constantly on the lookout for Russian objects and paintings to satisfy a clientele of discerning collectors. It is a fact that many private collectors would never dream of owning Russian objects or paintings.

Wouldyou like a free and confidential valuation? Our team is there for you, with no obligation on your part.

Our team is here to help and advise you, whether you are building up a collection or looking to sell at the best price.