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Lot Essay
Christie’s is honoured to present a very rare and fine selection of Russian Works of Art from an important American private collection, including paintings, outstanding works by Fabergé, including a rare glass vase decorated with silver-mounted bogatyrs, and among the best examples of Russian enamel to come to market in decades.
The works from this collection were acquired by Henry Penn Wenger (1927-1997) in the 1950s and 1960s from influential gallerists such as Lemon Saks (1907-1993) in Denver and Ilya Doub (d. 1984) in New York. Danish born Lemon Saks continued to maintain contacts with his native country, where he was known to have acquired many of the important objects that he would offer for sale, some of which had reputedly come from the collection of Empress Maria Feodorovna. Ilya Doub’s relationship with the Russian aristocracy, the broader emigré community and the Appraisers Association of America equally led him to have access to and acquire works of major significance and great quality.
These works have remained in the same collection since their acquisition and are being offered for the first time at auction at Christie’s.
Henry Penn Wenger was known by his family, friends and associates as an exceptionally erudite thinker, adventurer, explorer and savvy investor. Together with his father, Henry E. Wenger (1887-1972 formed Aurora Oil and Gas Co., which later became a branch of Marathon Oil Co. Wenger would then go on to form his own petroleum company. Prior to these business ventures, during his studies at University, Wenger traveled extensively, particularly to Central and South Asia and Africa.
Known also for cherishing his privacy, Wenger preferred to live a quiet and reserved life. He ensured that his passionate interests and collecting activities of Russian works of art, as well as his numerous philanthropic gestures remained private, and often anonymous.
The sculptural use of silver mounts, shaped as bogatyrs, on the present vase relate this piece to other Moscow designs by Fabergé in the Neo-Russian style. These imaginatively designed works are among the finest production of the firm and were usually given to commemorate important anniversaries, as diplomatic offerings, or as trophies. The influence of Russian modernism can be seen throughout the design, which combines the clean form of the colourless glass vase with silver handles in the form of legendary bogatyrs.
In its style and design which evokes the legendary past, the present vase relates to other modernist works in silver by Fabergé, such as the gem-set silver kovsh with a falconer on its prow, owned by the Nobel family (sold at Christie’s, London, 26 November 2012, lot 284), and a silver coupe-à-bec (endova), given by Emanuel Nobel (sold Christie's, London, 6 June 2011, lot 192).
The works from this collection were acquired by Henry Penn Wenger (1927-1997) in the 1950s and 1960s from influential gallerists such as Lemon Saks (1907-1993) in Denver and Ilya Doub (d. 1984) in New York. Danish born Lemon Saks continued to maintain contacts with his native country, where he was known to have acquired many of the important objects that he would offer for sale, some of which had reputedly come from the collection of Empress Maria Feodorovna. Ilya Doub’s relationship with the Russian aristocracy, the broader emigré community and the Appraisers Association of America equally led him to have access to and acquire works of major significance and great quality.
These works have remained in the same collection since their acquisition and are being offered for the first time at auction at Christie’s.
Henry Penn Wenger was known by his family, friends and associates as an exceptionally erudite thinker, adventurer, explorer and savvy investor. Together with his father, Henry E. Wenger (1887-1972 formed Aurora Oil and Gas Co., which later became a branch of Marathon Oil Co. Wenger would then go on to form his own petroleum company. Prior to these business ventures, during his studies at University, Wenger traveled extensively, particularly to Central and South Asia and Africa.
Known also for cherishing his privacy, Wenger preferred to live a quiet and reserved life. He ensured that his passionate interests and collecting activities of Russian works of art, as well as his numerous philanthropic gestures remained private, and often anonymous.
The sculptural use of silver mounts, shaped as bogatyrs, on the present vase relate this piece to other Moscow designs by Fabergé in the Neo-Russian style. These imaginatively designed works are among the finest production of the firm and were usually given to commemorate important anniversaries, as diplomatic offerings, or as trophies. The influence of Russian modernism can be seen throughout the design, which combines the clean form of the colourless glass vase with silver handles in the form of legendary bogatyrs.
In its style and design which evokes the legendary past, the present vase relates to other modernist works in silver by Fabergé, such as the gem-set silver kovsh with a falconer on its prow, owned by the Nobel family (sold at Christie’s, London, 26 November 2012, lot 284), and a silver coupe-à-bec (endova), given by Emanuel Nobel (sold Christie's, London, 6 June 2011, lot 192).