The Golden Age of Classicism and Empire<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The character of the boxes changed under Catherine II and Alexander I. Strict Classicism replaced the whimsical Rococo style. As a result, caskets of this time resemble ancient sarcophagi or architectural elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Representativeness became the priority during the Empire era. Therefore, masters made boxes more massive and used \u201ctsirovka\u201d (engraving on gold) extensively. Popular painting themes included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Views of St. Petersburg and suburban residences;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Copies of paintings by great masters like Raphael or Guido Reni;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- War trophies and laurel wreaths.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Historicism and the 19th-Century \u201cRussian Style\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
An interest in national roots marked the second half of the 19th century at the IPM. Jewelry boxes began to imitate the shapes of ancient Russian chests. Moreover, decorators utilized the \u201cpainting like filigree\u201d technique. This method imitated cloisonn\u00e9 enamel and made porcelain vie in beauty with gold and gemstones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Avant-Garde and 20th-Century \u201cWhite Gold\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The factory became the State Porcelain Factory (GPF) after 1917. The new leadership radically reconsidered the concept of small forms. Consequently, the jewelry box transformed from a vanity item into an object of agitation or formal exploration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Suprematist boxes by Kazimir Malevich and Ilya Chashnik represent a triumph of geometry. In these works, artists sacrificed functionality for architectonics. Meanwhile, Sergey Chekhonin used the surface of the boxes for complex graphic painting. He combined revolutionary symbols with the elegance of the \u201cWorld of Art\u201d style.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Modernity: Between Tradition and Artistic Expression<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Today, the Imperial Porcelain Manufactory continues to produce jewelry boxes using its rich archive of forms. The contemporary range follows three main directions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Replicas of Historical Forms:<\/strong> These reproductions of 18th-century snuffboxes allow enthusiasts to experience \u201cVinogradov\u201d porcelain.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Classical Painting:<\/strong> Caskets feature the traditional \u201cCobalt Net\u201d by Anna Yatskevich or floral motifs like the \u201cSt. Petersburg Bouquet.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Artist Porcelain:<\/strong> Contemporary artists like Tatyana Afanasyeva treat the box as a small sculptural form. They often use underglaze painting and complex textures to enhance the work.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
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- \n\t
- Classical Painting:<\/strong> Caskets feature the traditional \u201cCobalt Net\u201d by Anna Yatskevich or floral motifs like the \u201cSt. Petersburg Bouquet.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Replicas of Historical Forms:<\/strong> These reproductions of 18th-century snuffboxes allow enthusiasts to experience \u201cVinogradov\u201d porcelain.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
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