Tea and coffee service (teapot, coffee pot, creamer, sugar basin, cake basket)
Moscow, 1908-1917
Firm of O.Kurlyukov
Silver, enamel, mother-of-pearl
State Historical Museum, Moscow

It is a bright sample of the neo-Russian style executed by the firm of O.Kurlyukov. The service belonged to R.Khmyrov, Tyumen merchant. Its expressive silhouette and, especially, the plates with enamel paintings representing a bogatyr and a monastery on the background, boyarin with a staff, children in Russian costumes executed after paintings by E.Bem, V.Vasnetsov, N.Roerich confirm an interaction of jewellery with other kinds of art.

The Russian style in the late 19th century became a romantic neo-Russian style. New artistic images, original unexpected ornaments brilliant skill of the jewelers wishing to draw out from everyday life provided a high quality of artworks. Artworks executed in style of national romanticism and exhibited with an exclusive success at the World exhibition in Paris in 1900, amazed the contemporaries by their original forms and ornaments.

Feodor Ivanovich Ryukert was an original craftsman of romantic style. His enamels are inimitable. Many boxes, caskets, vases are decorated with original ornaments in a wide range of enamel colors and shades and plaques executed after paintings by well known artists — V.Vasnetsov, K.Makovsky, etc.

He worked for the main jewellery firms of C.Faberge, I.Marshak, O.Kurlyukov, and P.Ovchinnikov.

The firm of Orest Feodorovich Kurlyukov (1845-1916?), producing gold and silver articles was known in 1884 — 1917 as one — one of the largest jewellery enterprises of Moscow. The firm produced articles of various forms and materials — glass and crystal vases in silver mounts, ink devices and onyx vases decorated with silver, services, ladles, bratinas, etc. in different styles — Russian and neo-Russian, historical and modern style. In 1895 the articles of this firm were awarded with a medal of the Ministry of Finance "For diligence and art". In 1907 the firm's annual turnover came to 100000 rubles. The firm took part in the 1st International Exhibition of metal and stone production, and was awarded with a medal "For diligence and art".

Feodor Ivanovich Ryukert — owner of one of best enamel workshops, in 1887-1917 — owner of a factory producing gold, silver and enamel articles.