Ignaty Pavlovich SAZIKOV (1796-1868) Казачка, играющая на бандуре (Cossack woman playing bandura) The woman is seated on a barrel acting as a wine goblet. This model was created in 1850-1851 with the Cossack woman sitting on a tub. It was one of the thirty or so works presented by Sazikov at the London World's Fair, in the tradition of Gardner's porcelain statuettes of Russian types from the 1820s (but Sazikov added a utilitarian dimension (paperweight, goblet, pitcher). The subject was taken up by I. P. Sazikov, as evidenced by the hallmark dating from before his death in 1868, but with certain variations. It is difficult to compare, as the only known representation is a lithograph in the newspaper "Русский художественный листок" (The Russian Art Sheet) of 1851, no. 13. It cannot be ruled out that this is a reassembly of the original on a barrel in place of the tub by the Sazikov firm shortly after the death of I. P. Sazikov. The statuette is in silver, the dress and shoes are vermeiled, as is (at least in part) the bandura. The silver barrel is gilded on the inside. The statuette is held on the barrel by two small pins hidden in the folds of the dress. Marks on the sculpture: 84, Saint Petersburg and goldsmith "ИС" (Ignaty Pavlovitch Sazikov). Barrel hallmarks: 84, St. Petersburg 1870, assayer "ИЕ" (Ivan Vonifatievitch Evsigueneev) and silversmith "САЗИКОВЪ" (Firme Sazikov) with court supplier eagle and medal from the 1851 London World's Fair with profiles of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Height: 19.5 cm; barrel diameter: 8.9 cm; gross weight: 969 g [Russian art]