World Fairs of the Second Half of the 19th Century as a Source of Chinese Reminiscences in Russian Stone-Cutting Art

Abstract

The article is devoted to the retrospective analysis of the display of Chinese stone-cutting art at the World Fairs of the second half of the 19th century as one of the important ways of Chinese influence on domestic stone-cutting art. Based on the official publications of the World Fairs (catalogues, reports) as well as on the periodical press of this period, the authors provide the most objective description possible of the Chinese departments’ expositions. Particular attention is paid to the presence or absence of stone artworks in the expositions. The article provides excerpts and quotes which illustrate European masters’ and visitors’ close attention to the most important characteristics of Chinese stone-cutting art. By analysing the content of the subject exhibitions of Chinese departments, the author comes to the conclusion that the World Fairs became one of the important factors that influenced the emergence of a number of works (united by a special exotic style) in the production of the leading stone-cutting Russian factories in the last third of the 19th century. It is emphasized that the borrowing of individual techniques, and the elements of the aesthetic programme of Chinese artworks by Russian stonecutters were not a literal citation of specific items or decorations of Oriental Art.

Keywords

• Всемирные выставки
• камнерезное искусство
• Китай
• Петергофская гранильная фабрика
• Екатеринбургская гранильная фабрика
• фирма Фаберже
• кросс-культурные связи
• Европа — Восток в искусстве.