Object Description
An exceptional early 20th century handcarved nautical diorama framed with glass above an associated 19th century mahogany console table with Carrara marble top.
Ex. property of a British collector, this diorama dates from circa 1935. It was reputedly commissioned by Ferdinand Hansen of the Romanoff Caviar Company for the boardroom of their US office in New York, USA. For this reason, it is considered a very rare piece, likely unique.
This stunning decorative piece details scale models of seven handcarved fishermen wearing long coats, wellington boots and fur hats. Standing before a seascape, they work together to draw in a large net with which they are catching sturgeon fish in order to harvest caviar.
Signed to the reverse by German model makers ‘Walldorf u. Scharfrein Modellbau’ of Hamburg, the diorama captures a snippet of the Romanoff Caviar Company’s heritage.
Housed within a wooden frame, the large diorama is fitted with glass to the front, sides and top so that beauty and craftsmanship of the piece can be admired from various angles. The associated marble-topped mahogany console table beneath elevates the diorama to viewing level and is equally as decorative, carved with neoclassical style ionic column legs to the front.
This intricate large-scale, three-dimensional model is a showstopping interior piece, worthy of a museum. It is a brilliant addition to a collector of carvings and models looking for a striking and exclusive centrepiece steeped in history.
Romanoff Caviar Company
To this day, Romanoff Caviar are well-known as suppliers of some of the world’s most luxurious caviar. In fact, the Romanoff family name has been associated with premium caviar for more than 180 years.
The history of Romanoff caviar dates back to Europe circa 1839. Sturgeon were obtained from the Caspian and Black Seas for caviar production. Widely regarded as the most luxurious food item across the globe, Romanoff caviar was highly prized among aristocracy and royalty.
Using caviar sourced from Europe, Ferdinand Hansen opened the first ever retail caviar shop in America in 1912. The shop resided on the ground floor of the world-famous Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York. The US office of Romanoff Caviar, where this diorama was reputedly located for many decades, resided in Brighton Beach, New York.
Included with the piece is a promotional photograph showing a prize Beluga sturgeon caught at the headquarters of the Romanoff Caviar Company in Astrakhan, weighing a mighty 200lbs, as well as a printed advert for ‘Fresh Romanoff Malossol Caviar” (both pictured).
Diorama only: H61 x W126 x D53 cm