Vasily Agafonov

(Active 1893-1916)

Vasily Agafonov (in Russian Василий Семенович Агафонов) was a prominent silversmith and goldsmith in Moscow. He had a workshop producing silverware, decorative objects and jewellery. 

Agafonov's workshop was especially famous for the flawless quality of its enamel production, performed mostly by combining the traditional Russian and Modern styles. Just like Klingert, the master frequently chose the colour palette, consisting of the so-called colours of the Virgin, such as white, turquoise and all shades of blue. The purple and Chinese red were much less common for Agafonov's enamels. 

Apart from silverware, the workshop produced small objects with cloisonne enamels, especially spoons, glass holders, cigarette cases, caskets. They were often generously decorated with peculiar multicoloured flowers and scrolling foliage within the borders of white or blue beads. The significant role in Agafonov's designs was taken by exotic winged creatures, mythological birds and dragons.

At the end of the 19th century, Agafonov turned his attention to the mystical world of insects. Golden brooches, earrings, pendants with precious stones were crafted in the form of butterflies, bugs, and others. One of such pieces, the ruby dragonfly brooch is assumed to belong to one of the female members of the last Romanovs and represented in the National Historical Museum in Moscow nowadays.

Some believe that the outbreak of the Russian Revolution forced the business closure, but the last notice of Agafanov’s firm activity was registered a bit earlier, in 1916.