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Lot 190
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Historic President & Mrs. Ronald Reagan Fine Russian Lacquer Box, Likely a Gift from Their Trip to Moscow & Used in the White House!
Historic President & Mrs. Ronald Reagan Fine Russian Lacquer Box, Likely a Gift from Their Trip to Moscow & Used in the White House!
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Description:

Reagan Ronald



Historic President & Mrs. Ronald Reagan fine Russian Lacquer Box, Likely a Gift from Their Trip to Moscow & Used in the White House!



Finely painted Russian lacquered box adorned with gold leaf highlights. The box is signed and dated in gold leaf by the designer "A. Gruno 1976r" / Kyw C ". Underside of box states "Made in USSR/No 117.7" Small paper from the Russian factory located loosely inside the box, stating 'Ministry of Regional Industry/ Fedoskino Miniature Painting Factory/Miniature 9/ Story of Trioka/ Item number Mo-117-7/ 141722 Village of Fedoskino, Moscow Oblast. Additional Christie's lot sticker and University Archives authentication tag hand numbered and signed by John Reznikoff. 4" x 3" x 1"high. Fine condition.



A fine Russian hand painted Lacquered box with [markings] from the personal collection of President Ronald and Nancy Reagan, owned and used by them in the Presidential years at the Family Residence in the White House and then at their Bel Air, California home. Originally sold at Christie’s in New York. These boxes were almost certainly acquired during the Reagans historic trip to Russia for the 1988 Moscow Summit. They may also be State gifts presented by Gorbachev or other dignitaries as is evidenced by one the boxes included in the Christies auction which bears the inscription : “Presented to Mrs. Nancy Reagan from marine security guards Leningrad May 31, 1988”



President Reagan's position on Russia was one of the resounding highlights of his campaign and his Presidency. His foreign policy's main goal was winning the Cold War and the rollback of Communism-which was achieved in Eastern Europe in 1989 and in the end of the Soviet Union in 1991. Characterized by a strategy of "peace through strength" and an escalation of Cold War tensions 1981-1984 following by warming of relations with the Soviet Union, Reagan championed the massive military build up of arms in the United States such that the Vatican's Secretary of State, Agostino Cardinal Casaroli, said, "Ronald Reagan obligated the Soviet Union to increase its military spending to the limits of insupportability. When the Soviet Union could no longer afford the competition, its leaders decided to end the Cold War. A modified version of this argument holds that the American military buildup simply worsened the Soviet economic quandary. Either way, Reagan was committed to restoring US Strength and reversing strategic imbalances (real and perceived). And while in the midst of this Chess game ramp up, Reagan strategically wrote to Soviet leaders imploring them to negotiate arms reductions.



One cannot hold these Russian relics without hearing arguably the two most notable quotes of Reagans Presidency. Not quite a year before the Moscow Summit Reagan exclaimed to a crowd in Berlin “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall” . Perhaps even more resonant was Reagans quote used with regard to the various Nuclear Treaties with Russia “Trust, but verify” Ironically , and of great importance to the relics offered here, the phrase is actually Russian., "<{Doveryai, no proveryai} (trust, but verify). Reagan was advised that the Russians like to talk in proverbs and that as an actor he could learn these lines very quickly. Reagan adopted the proverb as a signature phrase, and he used it frequently.



After Reagan used the phrase to emphasize "the extensive verification procedures that would enable both sides to monitor compliance with the treaty" Gorbachev responded: "You repeat that at every meeting," to which Reagan answered "I like it."



A lovely, very personal, and historically important piece, owned by the Reagans and on spectacular display. Nancy was very particular with creating a perfect and well decorated environment for the White House, and home for themselves. Her flair for decorating, entertaining and hosting transformed the aura of style and sophistication to the White House. “She felt the White House should exemplify the best,” said Mark Weinberg, who worked on Ronald Reagan’s campaigns, in the White House Press Office. The Reagans were also ardent collectors, and Nancy loved to display their collections. The Reagan's love for Russian hand painted lacquer boxes was apparent as they often had them prominently arranged on a table as shown in the image included with the box and available on the notable website "The Glam Pad" here http://www.theglampad.com/2016/03/nancy-reagans-white-house.html . This lacquered box is extraordinary coming from the village of Fedoskino. Ex Christies auction.



About The Lacquer Box:



The Fedoskino village is located near Moscow. The name of Fedoskino has nearly become synonymous with the art of Russian lacquer painting, miniatures, and lacquer boxes. Widely known from the 18th century, the exquisite, highly detailed miniatures from Fedoskino are sought after by collectors throughout the world. Through the difficult years of World War II and the decades of Communist rule, Fedoskino lacquer miniature painting survived and established itself as a unique Russian art form.



The heyday of Fedoskino miniature fell on the second half of the 19th century, and the works of that time are known as 'lukutins', named after the merchants Lukutins, who owned the Fedoskino factory at that time. Some of the factory craftsmen had artistic education, and lots of them had come from icon painting studios.



The popular motifs used in Fedoskino miniature are all sorts of tea-drinking with samavar, troikas (carriage-and-three), and scenes from Russian peasant life. The contemporary Fedoskino painting preserves the typical features of Russian folk art.



Common characteristics of Fedoskino paintings include correct proportions of figures and illumination with silver, gold, or mother-of-pearl. Border ornaments tend to be simple or nonexistent, though finer boxes may have borders painted in a floral motif, inlaid with silver or gold (skan) in a geometric pattern, or a crosshatch design (Scotch tartan). Other distinctive touches include marbled lacquer effects and smoked lacquer with the appearance of tortoiseshell. Fedoskino lacquer boxes are generally signed with the artist's name, village name and the year in the lower edge of the painting using a complementary color.



This spectacular box has the traditional troika scene of a carriage, with the driver of 3 horses, which is also now the official hall mark for the Fedoskino Factory.



The Christie's Reagan auction saw record prices for a celebrity including about $200,000 for cowboy boots and $100,000 for a sheet of Presidential doodles. This set was purchased with the hopes that individual items could be offered, so as to share something intimate, private and Presidential with clients who might not wish to own a large group. The Reagans entertained a regalia of people at their home ranging from Heads of State and Politicos to the glitterati friends from the Hollywood days.



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