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Source Description
What is particularly unusual with this kovsh is the use of the cloisonné rather than the filigree technique in creating the image of the Sirin. That is to say, flat rather than twisted wires separate the fields of color and their edges are flush with the surface rather than rising above it.The mythological creature's face and her particularly elaborate crown, headdress, and collar have been painted with naturalistic detail. Her torso and extended wings are rendered with grayish white scrolls suggestive of plumage. At her feet is depicted a terem with a gilded onion dome and tower roofs in foiled translucent enamel. The sky is in graduated shades of blue and is dotted with patterns of turquoise squares and red circles. The remaining surfaces are decorated with formal designs in painted filigree over a silver gilt surface, which, in turn, has been worked in repoussé with raised patterns of bands, scrolls, and foliage. The decoration is characterized by the abundance of square and circular motifs; the use of foiled, translucent enamel, particularly in bright red segments juxtaposed against those in black; and the restrained abstract flowers. On the handle and the front lip there are also patterns of raised, silver gilt balls. Variously colored cabochon hardstones have been applied on either side of the bowl and on the handle.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
82473
label
Kovsh with Sirin
core
obj
dtoType
object
citationUrl
pageCount
2
Source metadata
id
82473
sourceUrl
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Kovsh with Sirin
description
What is particularly unusual with this kovsh is the use of the cloisonné rather than the filigree technique in creating the image of the Sirin. That is to say, flat rather than twisted wires separate the fields of color and their edges are flush with the surface rather than rising above it.The mythological creature's face and her particularly elaborate crown, headdress, and collar have been painted with naturalistic detail. Her torso and extended wings are rendered with grayish white scrolls suggestive of plumage. At her feet is depicted a terem with a gilded onion dome and tower roofs in foiled translucent enamel. The sky is in graduated shades of blue and is dotted with patterns of turquoise squares and red circles. The remaining surfaces are decorated with formal designs in painted filigree over a silver gilt surface, which, in turn, has been worked in repoussé with raised patterns of bands, scrolls, and foliage. The decoration is characterized by the abundance of square and circular motifs; the use of foiled, translucent enamel, particularly in bright red segments juxtaposed against those in black; and the restrained abstract flowers. On the handle and the front lip there are also patterns of raised, silver gilt balls. Variously colored cabochon hardstones have been applied on either side of the bowl and on the handle.
provenance
Sotheby's, Geneva, May 15, 1986; Jean M. Riddell, Washington, D.C., May 15, 1986, by purchase [Leo Kaplan, New York, as agent]; Walters Art Museum, 2010, by bequest.
date
1908-1917
citationUrl
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
kovshi
imageCount
2
pageCount
2
source
import
dimensions
units
cm
width
13.4
height
24.1
depth
11.6
dimensionsRaw
H: 5 1/4 x W: 9 1/2 x D: 4 9/16 in. (13.4 x 24.1 x 11.6 cm)
Source extras
inscriptions
[Marks] On base in Cyrillic: O.Kurliukov; [Symbols] circular kokoshnik right
kokoshnik right
delta
84; [Mark] On handle in Cyrillic: Okh; [Monogram] On back of kovsh: IS
med
silver gilt, cloisonné and filigree enamel, cabochon hardstones
creator_ids
31573
collection_ids
EAN
exhibition_ids
none
Page inventory
seq
1
type
photo
mediaId
9df094df3fb00d5e
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
2
type
photo
mediaId
af8726bd9d4af205
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no