late 19th/early 20th century, intricate oak leaf and branch design surmounted with a crown, acorn cap encrusted with Old Mine cut diamonds, set in silver, stamped with Russian "56" zolotnik gold standard, 14kt. yellow gold, St. George and the Dragon Moscow city mark, "IF" maker's mark for Ivan Antonovich Flink (c. 1852-1917), in original fitted box, printed "C.E. Bolin Court Jeweler, St. Petersburg and Moscow", in Cyrillic, 5-3/4 in. length, 1-1/4 in. widest area, 63.2 g

Provenance: According to consignor notes, this brooch was acquired by an Ohio Senator during his honeymoon in Russia in the late 19th century

Note: Founded in the late 18th century, the House of Bolin was among the most prestigious jewelry firms in Russia, serving the Imperial Court from 1839 onward. After the death of Carl Edvard Bolin in 1864, the firm passed to his sons, Edvard and Gustaf, who were both renewed as Crown Jewelers. In 1912, they received the unique distinction of hereditary nobility from Nicholas II—the only goldsmiths in Russia to be so honored.

Ivan Antonovich Flink, active as a workmaster for Bolin’s Moscow branch at the turn of the 20th century, was responsible for executing designs for the firm. Works bearing his mark, produced under Bolin’s Imperial warrant, are recognized as part of the corpus of Russian Imperial jewelry.

Brunk Auctions makes no warranty or guarantee regarding any metal stamps, maker's marks, and/or metal tests performed to the best of our ability. All diamonds, colored stones, pearls, or other gem materials’ weight, color, and clarity grades are estimated as mounted. Unless explicitly stated, stones have not been removed from their mountings. We do not guarantee whether a gemstone is natural or synthetic, or whether it has been treated or enhanced.

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