Firm Lorie Silver in the Art Nouveau style

Decanter, Russia, Moscow, 1899-1908
Decanter, Russia, Moscow, 1899-1908

Lorie ‘s firm ranks among the leading jewelry factories operating at the turn of the twentieth century. Despite the fact that Lorie’s workshop was located in Moscow, the entire imperial family and the Russian nobility were among the clients of the outstanding jeweler. The products are distinguished by their own style, which has absorbed several artistic directions at once. Fyodor Lorie’s firm created objects with extremely unusual shapes, ornaments and images.

Firm Lorie. A jug with a cork, Russia, Moscow, 1899-1908
A jug with a cork, Russia, Moscow, 1899-1908

The history of the Lorie factory

The Lorie company is one of the prominent jewelery manufacturers that flourished in the second half of the 19th century. During the previous century, the silver business was in the hands of private jewelers who worked on piece items. However, industrial progress and high demand contributed to the rapid development of the art of jewelry. The Moscow school of silversmiths absorbed the experience of previous generations of craftsmen, and new technological methods of metal processing enabled jewelers to rise to an extremely high artistic level.

Lorie’s company dates back to 1871. The factory was founded by a representative of the older generation of the family Anton-Azhil Lorie. In the first years of work, it was a small workshop where silverware and interior items were made. In 1885, the company opened its own shop, which was located in the same building as the Faberge shop. After the death of the founder in 1889, the business passed into the hands of his son, Fyodor Antonovich, who put him on a grand scale.

Firm Lorie. Bouvar with a portrait of V.I. Lenin, addressed to A.I. Morin
Bouvar with a portrait of V.I. Lenin, addressed to A.I. Morin

At the beginning of the company’s existence, there were only seven foremen and one employee who was responsible for receiving visitors. In 1912, Lorie, together with his companions Alexei Lemkul and Julius Guerrieri, founded the F. A. Lorie where there were already sixteen employees. The staff of the factory by that time numbered more than a hundred people, it included jewelers, apprentices and artists. The annual turnover was 25 thousand rubles, which indicated a good demand for the products.

Firm Lorie. Caddy, Russia, Moscow, 1908-1916
Caddy, Russia, Moscow, 1908-1916

The company received the honorary status of a supplier to the imperial court

In 1904 won a silver award at an international exhibition held under the patronage of Grand Duchess Elizabeth, wife of the grandson of Nicholas I, Konstantin Romanov. It can be assumed that the partners who worked for Faberge at the same time took an active part in Lorie’s affairs and contributed to obtaining the highest orders.

By 1914, the firm was at its peak. During this period, the factory moved to a new house, on the project of which the famous Moscow architect Fyodor Ganeshin worked. Two years later, Fyodor Lorie sold the business to the industrialist Alexei Sokolov, but immediately after the revolution the workshops were closed. The elegant red brick building has survived to this day, only the jeweler’s monogram on the majolica panels replaced the Lukoil logo.

Firm Lorie. Cigarette case with the image of a flying swallow, Russia, Moscow,
Cigarette case with the image of a flying swallow, Russia, Moscow,

Silver from Fedor’s factory

Lorie The main stylistic direction in the work of the company was modern. The products reflect the characteristic images, themes and plots of the style. The assortment of the Lorie factory included:

  • crockery and cutlery;
  • accessories;
  • frames for crystal vases;
  • boxes and writing materials;
  • medallions and tokens;
  • Jewelry.

The craftsmen perfectly mastered the technique of casting and embossing in combination with elements of stamped patterns. Translucent enamel was often used in the decoration.

In creating the images, the company’s artists used all the variety of modern style. There are practically no sharp corners in the decoration of objects, the graphic solutions are based on the plasticity of curving lines and plant motifs. Figures of animals were made with naturalistic precision, and images of mermaids received a plane interpretation. Ancient Egyptian designs were often found in ornaments. The decorative effect was based on a combination of materials of different textures. Most often, craftsmen combined silver and crystal.

Firm Lorie. Decanter with a monogram, Russia, Moscow, 1908-1916
Decanter with a monogram, Russia, Moscow, 1908-1916
There is a strong Art Nouveau influence in the design of objects in the neoclassical style.

Symmetrical, austere décor contrasts with the flowing lines of the international Art Nouveau style. Despite the fact that the masters of Lorie did not work in the neo-Russian direction, sometimes echoes of national traditions can be traced in the patterns. In a clearly defined neoclassicism, jewelers mostly made tableware and decorated cup holders, coffee and tea sets with antique patterns.

The peculiarity of Art Nouveau is the decoration of objects of decorative and applied art with semiprecious stones. At the Lorie factory, lapis lazuli, topazes and chalcedony often became elements of the compositions, which were used to decorate vases, bowls and cigarette cases. Finishing became a kind of “visiting card” of the company, since ornamental stones were a rarity in the jewelry business of that time. It was believed that under bright electric light, they lose their beauty.

Most of the surviving items were created by Yegor Cheryatov, who owned his own workshop and carried out many of Lorie’s orders. As a rule, the master worked on works of great artistic value. Such items were marked with double brands directly by the firm and the jeweler who worked on the order. Lorie’s precious creations are highly valued at world antiques auctions, most of them are currently kept in museums and private collections.

Products
Firm Lorie. Decanter, Russia, Moscow, 1908-1916
Decanter, Russia, Moscow, 1908-1916
Firm Lorie. Breastplate, Russia, Moscow, 1897
Breastplate, Russia, Moscow, 1897
Firm Lorie. Fruit vase, Russia, Moscow, 1908-1916
Fruit vase, Russia, Moscow, 1908-1916
Firm Lorie. Kovsh, Russia, Moscow, 1899-1908
Kovsh, Russia, Moscow, 1899-1908
Miniature bucket 1908-1916
Miniature bucket 1908-1916
Pouring spoon with monogram L (from a set for a punch), 1908-1916
Pouring spoon with monogram L (from a set for a punch), 1908-1916
Prize dish of the Moscow hunting society named after Emperor Alexander II
Prize dish of the Moscow hunting society named after Emperor Alexander II
Shop LORIE, Kuznetsky most, house number 4
Shop LORIE, Kuznetsky most, house number 4
Sugar bowl, Russia, Moscow, 1908-1916 Workshop for the production of gold and silver items E. Cheriatova, Firm F. Lorie
Sugar bowl, Russia, Moscow, 1908-1916 Workshop for the production of gold and silver items E. Cheriatova, Firm F. Lorie
Vase, Glass - Belgium. Frame - Russia, Moscow, 1908-1916 (frame)
Vase, Glass – Belgium. Frame – Russia, Moscow, 1908-1916 (frame)
Vase-ladle, Russia, Moscow, 1908-1916
Vase-ladle, Russia, Moscow, 1908-1916
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