Silver vase with niello, Semenov. Russia, 1908 - 1917.

Vasily Semenovich Semenov is the owner and founder of the silverware factory, which he opened in 1852. It was famous for the production of silver products decorated with engraving with black. The products of his factory were distinguished by beauty, elegance and filigree execution. As evidenced by the numerous awards received by his products at various Russian and foreign exhibitions. At the All-Russian Manufactory Exhibition held in St. Petersburg in 1870, Vasily Semenov was awarded a silver medal for "special production of distinct work of silver things with black and the beauty of drawings" on the products. His works were also appreciated in 1867 in Paris, in 1873 in Vienna, in 1876 in Philadelphia. At the All-Russian Exhibition of Artistic and Industrial Goods in 1882, the factory's products were awarded the gold medal "For Elegance". After the death of Vasily Semyonovich, his daughter Maria Vasilyevna successfully continued the business.But when she came to manage the factory, Maria Semenova somewhat changed the direction of production, giving a special place to the manufacture of buckets, which later became famous. Maria Vasilyevna often drew sketches herself, which were distinguished by the splendor, richness of the enamel palette and at the same time thoughtful thoroughness of mounting and finishing. From the hands of her masters came ceremonial silverware, which was primarily interested in merchants.The technique of applying black to silver has been known in the south of Russia since the X century, when this technology appeared in Russia, probably from Byzantium. The technique consisted in creating a black from an alloy of sulfur, silver and other metals, which was then applied to the surface of the product to create a dark background for further engraving of the drawing. The second way to create a decor was to apply a black alloy to an already engraved image. By the 12th century, the technique had spread to the more northern regions of Russia. The technique of decorating silver products with black for many centuries of its existence has experienced both ups and downs, but it was never forgotten.Starting in 1867, Vasily Semenov took part in international and All-Russian art and industrial exhibitions and immediately won the recognition of his contemporaries.In 1870, at an exhibition in St. Petersburg, Vasily Semenov was awarded a silver medal for "the distinct work of silver things with black ink and the beauty of drawings",and at the All-Russian Exhibition of 1882, he received a gold medal "for the elegance of engraving patterns on silver products and decorating them with black".The high appreciation of the factory's products at the exhibition brought new orders from large manufacturers — Ovchinnikov, Kurlyukov, who instructed Semenov to carry out work with blackening for large and responsible orders. In 1873 , 40 workers were already working at the factory and the annual turnover was 75 thousand rubles . In the future, Semenov's company continued to successfully present its products at Russian and international exhibitions: 1867 — the World Exhibition in Paris, 1870 — the exhibition in St. Petersburg (silver medal), 1873 - Vienna, 1876 — Philadelphia. At the All-Russian Exhibition of 1882, Vasily Semenov received a gold medal "for the elegance of engraving patterns on silver products and decorating them with black".