Imperial Russian Silver Kokoshnik Maiden & Nephrite Page Turner, Marked “BA"

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Imperial Russian Silver & Nephrite Page Turner with Kokoshnik Maiden, Marked “BA,” Moscow, circa 1890–1910

A rare and luxurious Imperial … Read more Imperial Russian Silver & Nephrite Page Turner with Kokoshnik Maiden, Marked “BA,” Moscow, circa 1890–1910

A rare and luxurious Imperial Russian page turner, masterfully combining hand-chased silver and carved Siberian nephrite. The piece is mounted with a sculptural female bust in traditional Russian dress, wearing the iconic kokoshnik headdress—a national symbol of “Mother Russia” and an emblem of pride in late Imperial decorative arts.

The silver element bears the Moscow 84 zolotnik standard mark alongside the maker’s mark “BA,” an unidentified accomplished Moscow silversmith active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The blade is carved from Siberian nephrite jade, a material prized for its durability, translucency, and deep green coloration. Nephrite of this quality was quarried in the Irkutsk and Lake Baikal regions and reserved for luxury commissions, as its hardness made carving exceptionally difficult.

Such desk objects were more than functional; they embodied status, taste, and cultural identity during a period when Russian applied arts reached international acclaim. Surviving examples of page turners in silver and hardstone are exceedingly rare, and this specimen, with intact maker’s and assay marks, stands out for its artistry and provenance.

Dimensions: 9" long x 1.75" d

Estate-fresh, this is a museum-quality collectible suitable for the most discerning collection of Russian decorative arts. See less