Christie’s summer Russian Art sale is distinguished by an emphasis on quality and works sourced from private collections.

Session I highlights include one of the finest Aivazovsky seascapes to ever appear on the market; a rare Mashkov from the 1910s best known from a period photograph of the 1916–1917 Mir Iskusstva [World of Art] exhibition; Pirosmani’s extremely rare Arsenal Hill at night, one of the few works by this artist in private hands; and two magnificent Roerichs offered by the Nicholas Roerich Museum, New York.

Session II will be devoted to Russian Works of Art and features opulent works by Fabergé led by a two-colour gold guilloché enamel desk clock as well as exceptional 18th century Russian silver, Soviet porcelain and bronzes with distinguished provenance. The sale will also include Part IV of an important porcelain collection, which has been enthusiastically received in previous sales.