Lot 3141
Multi-gemstone Intarsia Plaque by Nicolai Medvedev
16 June 2021, 10:00 PDT
Los AngelesSold for US$510 inc. premium
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Multi-gemstone Intarsia Plaque by Nicolai Medvedev
circa 1990
Retailed by E.F. Watermelon
Old Lyme, Connecticut
Of kite-shaped outline, this pendant which possesses no fittings, is composed of an inlay of malachite, turquoise and sugilite and white opal, unmounted. Height 1 3/8 in
Retailed by E.F. Watermelon
Old Lyme, Connecticut
Of kite-shaped outline, this pendant which possesses no fittings, is composed of an inlay of malachite, turquoise and sugilite and white opal, unmounted. Height 1 3/8 in
Footnotes
Nicolai Medvedev
Beginning his formal art training at the age of twelve, Medvedev continued for fourteen years, including several years of impressionist painting at the prestigious Art Institute of Moscow. An interest in central Asian jewelry, with its inlays and gemstone overlays, and the Faberge-style craftsmanship he discovered at the Hermitage in St. Petersburg led him to try his hand at intarsia. Since immigrating to the United States in 1980, he has focused entirely on intarsia, developing a unique approach. He is now widely considered to be one of the world's premier intarsia artists.
Born and raised in Ashkhabad, Turkmenia, a Russian city near Iran, the handicrafts and architecture of the region had the greatest influence on his designs. Whether creating delicate pendants or magnificent boxes lined with exotic woods, Medvedev demonstrates an unrivaled degree of perfection in his work. He is noted for his dramatic juxtaposition of color and form which produces breathtaking results and evokes memories of Central Asia.
Because intarsia involves such a high degree of intricacy and is created on such a small scale, the amount of concentration and time involved in producing one piece is incredible. Though usually working on several pieces at once, Medvedev averages a few months of work on a smaller box while a larger box may take him up to two years to complete.
Medvedev's art has been displayed extensively, including exhibits at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, the Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art in Chicago, and the Gems and Minerals Hall of the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. His talent and work is recognized by collectors worldwide and his beautiful objects can be found in private collections including those of several royal families. In 1991 he won first place in the category "Objects of Art" in the American Gem Trade Association's prestigious "Cutting Edge" Competition. He has been featured in numerous international publications including articles in Lapidary Journal, Rock and Gem, and Gems and Gemology.
