Pavel Akimovich Ovchinnikov (June 23, 1830, Otradnoye, Russian Empire – April 7, 1888 (57 years old), Moscow, Russian Empire), Russian manufacturer, one of the founders of the Russian national jewelry school and a recreator of the Russian style in jewelry, and also an honorary citizen of Moscow, a member of the Moscow City Duma, a member of the Merchant Council and the Exchange Committee.

Firm “P.A. Ovchinnikov” (1851-1917), in terms of importance and value, is included in the first category of jewelers and gold and silver business in pre-revolutionary Russia. Being a silversmith, in 1851 Pavel Akimovich Ovchinnikov opened in Moscow a company that later became world-famous for the production of gold and silver products.

Since 1865, the company has become a regular supplier of the court of Tsarevich Alexander (the future Emperor Alexander III) and receives the highest status of “court”. In 1872, the enterprise was awarded the title of supplier to the court of His Imperial Majesty, in 1878 – the title of supplier to the court of Grand Duke Mikhail Nikolayevich.

The Ovchinnikov factory was a trendsetter in jewelry fashion and was considered, from the point of view of organization, the largest trading and manufacturing enterprise of that time. The production department of Ovchinnikov’s company was located in Moscow in the First Goncharny Lane in the house of Lezhnev and Biryukova. The trading divisions of the company in Moscow are represented by shops on Kuznetsky Most (Vargin’s house) and Ilyinka (Khludov’s house). In addition to its own stores, Ovchinnikov’s firm placed its orders in trading houses. For example, the company’s cooperation with the Beilin and Son trading house is known.

The company had numerous awards and titles, not only domestic, but also many foreign from the imperial, royal and princely houses.

In 1917, due to a radically changed political situation, following the majority of enterprises in tsarist Russia, Ovchinnikov’s company with all production, trade and educational departments ceased operations.

The assortment of the company is represented by both household items, dishes, writing instruments, caskets, albums, cigarette cases, and cult items: chalices, folds, salaries for liturgical books and icons.

Many of these products are in the State Museums of Russia, as well as in the collections of European royal houses.

Ovchinnikov’s production was distinguished by the characteristic use of the Russian style. A rich color palette, precious metals and Russian ornaments were adapted to the present and the products met the needs of their time.

At the end of the 19th century, Ovchinnikov’s Moscow enamellers for the first time in the history of Russian jewelry introduced a new technique – multi-colored, transparent “window” enamel, which looks like a stained-glass window and looks through the light. “Stained glass” or “window” enamel turned out to be very fragile and difficult to manufacture, so it was not widely used, which deserved special value today.

The craftsmen of the Ovchinnikov firm used a wide variety of metal processing and decoration techniques. The quality of the blackening of the metal by the craftsmen of Ovchinnikov’s products was beyond competition.