Valeri Timofeev (Latvian, 1941-2014) - Plique a Jour Enamel and Silver Cup.

Plique a Jour enamel over gilt ...

Valeri Timofeev (Latvian, 1941-2014) - Plique a Jour Enamel and Silver Cup.

Plique a Jour enamel over gilt silver wires.

Marked - VT.

Height: 4.5cm. 

62gr.

Vareri Timofeev was born in Riga, Latvia, moved to Moscow at the age of twenty-six. He initially worked in jewelry, but decided to specialize in enamels in a larger format. While still residing in Moscow, he acquired an international reputation for his work. Among his particular interests are the techniques and traditions of Russian enamellists prior to 1917. He tried to replicate their achievements, but soon decided to adapt their methods to a contemporary style. As early as 1991, he was exhibiting in the United States where he immigrated in 1996. His works are being collected by Walters Art Museum, Smithsonian American Art Museum and Dallas Museum of Art.

Plique-a-jour (French for "letting in daylight") is a vitreous enamelling technique where the enamel is applied in cells, similar to cloisonne, but with no backing in the final product, so light can shine through the transparent or translucent enamel. It is in effect a miniature version of stained-glass and is considered very challenging technically: high time consumption (up to 4 months per item), with a high failure rate. The technique is similar to that of cloisonne, but using a temporary backing that after firing is dissolved by acid or rubbed away. A different technique relies solely on surface tension, for smaller areas. In Japan the technique is known as shotai-jippo (shotai shippo), and is found from the 19th century on.