THE NOBLE METALS AND JEWELRY. 129 



attained a definite style in designs and in the character of workmanship. The im- 

 provement in g-old and silver wares began with the Byzantine artists who came to 

 Eussia and left very decided traces of their influence on the character of the Rus- 

 sian designs, which are still very similar to the pure Byzantine types. Although the 

 German artists, who later on came to ^loscow, made gieat changes in these designs, 

 still the fundamental character of the Byzantine style has not lost its predominating 

 influence. The Byzantine has been reproduced in a whole mass of articles made during 

 the last flfty years by the best Russian silversmiths. 



The working of jewels came to Russia much later, namely, in the sixteenth 

 century. It began in Moscow, which owing to its being the residence of the Court 

 and grandees, was the principal centre of silver, gold and jewel works. Tims, in the 

 beginning of the eighteenth century, according to some documents which have sur- 

 vived, there were in Moscow 43 goldsmiths and 232 silversmiths, amongst them were 

 jewelers. 



Only in the middle of the eighteenth century gold and silver fabrics were 

 organized in Russia; these fabrics had a certain constant number of workmen in 

 tliem and articles in gold and silver were prepared not only to order, but as other 

 market merchandise. Well organized workshops with a considerable number of 

 workmen were established at the end of the last century and the beginning of the 

 present. The principal of these founders is Sazikov who built his factory first in 

 Moscow and later on in St. Petersburg. 



Owing to the choice of good models, to the careful execution of the designs of 

 good artists belonging to the fabric and by others, and to the excellent finish of the 

 work, Sazikov became celebrated not only in Russia but also abroad. The repousse 

 works done by him always attracted the attention of experts and amateurs by the 

 force of their relief. Mechanical apparatus and steam motors were first introduced in 

 the Sazikov's factory at St. Petersburg, where latterly 75 workmen were working 

 and producing articles to the value of 150,000 roubles. Unfortunately this exemplary 

 silver fabric had to be closed in 1880, after the death of the director. However the 

 workmen who had long served there were very useful from their knowledge and 

 experience to other fabrics; some of them even opened their own workshops and 

 took orders from silver stores. 



The enamelling of silver was very little known until about 1850, and the work 

 previous to that time was imperfectly executed. This art began to be developed owing 

 to the Moscow manufacturer Ovchinnikov who founded his establishment in 1845. 

 Later on he opened at his works a school with practical classes of drawing and 

 of the science of silver art. He produces articles for the sum of 300,000 roubles 

 yearly, works 120 men and is now the first silversmith in Russia. Next come Khleb- 

 nikov and Postnikov, both also great manufacturers of fine enamelled silver goods, 

 with their own factories in Moscow. 



The jewelry industry is principally centred in St. Petersburg and Moscow, where 

 it has numerous representatives who possess well organized factories. Some of them 

 use mechanical apparatus, especially stamping machines, for the manufacture of 

 more ordinary articles. 



Silver and jewelry industries bear also in some localities a domestic character 

 which was especially developed and attained great proportions about the thirties, in 



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