A REVIEW ON THE "PAVLOVSK CASKET"

    The work of decorative art by a famous St. Petersburg artist Valeria Mokeeva, the "Pavlovsk Casket" was carved during 1999 - 2000. The work constitutes a casket made in the best traditional technique. The architectural implementation of the work is based on famous temple designs of the classicism.
    Mainly, this work reminds you of the refined carvings by Maria Fyodorovna, Pavel I's wife, which predetermined the artistic design and the choice of material, the noble walnut, exquisite mammoth ivory and effective gilded bronze. The work is notable for its perfection and fineness of carving. The value of this unique piece of decorative art is also enhanced due to its practical usefulness, which lets its owner make use of the casket as such.
    The fruitful idea of making pieces of applied art in the form of classical temples may be continued as a series and is a renewed tradition in reconstruction of the best samples of Russian and European art.

O. A. Krivdina, Ph.D. (History of Arts)
Chief Researcher of the Sculpture Department,
State Russian museum