MIKHAIL CHEMIAKIN (RUSSIAN B. 1943)
Petrushka, 2002
sterling silver
overall height: 100.5 cm (39 5/8 in.)
the mounted plaques inscribed with Chemiakin Design with a logo, artist's signature, standard and edition: Galmer New York. 925 STERLING SILVER. 17/24/2002

EXHIBITED
St. Petersburg, The State Hermitage Museum, Manege Central Exhibition Hall, Mikhail Chemiakin: Sculpture. Fine Art. Graphic Art. Works of Art., October 15-November 15, 1995
The exhibition traveled to: Moscow, State Tretyakov Gallery, 1995
Moscow, the Bolshoi Theatre, 1995
Moscow, The Russian State University for the Humanities (RGGU), 1995

LITERATURE
Chemiakin. VI. Jewelry. The State Hermitage. Central Exhibition Hall "Manege." State Tretyakov Gallery (New York: Russian World Gallery, 1995), ex. cat. (illustrated)

LOT NOTES
Petrushka, a Russian stock character deriving from 17th century Commedia dell'arte, became a recurring figure in Chemiakin's oeuvre along harlequins and other theatrical, carnivalesque figures. The present sculpture, modeled as a candelabra, is made after a painted polymer cast from a 1998 series of the same name. On several occasions, Chemiakin - an admirer of Stravinsky, whom he met in 1962 - also produced costume designs for the composer's ballets, including Petrushka. Central to this type of work by Chemiakin is inspiration from African, Oceanic, and Mesoamerican masks, synthesised with Commedia dell'arte, Russian skomorokhperformances and 19th century lubok.