A
word from the Author
Dear
Alan and Sue,
Just
a little note about how I got started on the road to writing this book.
It
was 38 years ago that I first came across some Russian silver in the form of a half a dozen teaspoons. They were so
different to what we were accustomed to in Britain that it aroused my interest.
Shortly after I found a cloisonné enamel salt spoon and then a champagne cup by Ovchinnikov, and by this time I was hooked.
I
searched for any information on the marks or the makers and found that there was virtually nothing available in English either
in or out of print.
The
only answer seemed to me to learn Russian and to see what else I could find out on the subject. Some 33 years later
I retired from the drugs industry which I had been in since school.
With
more time on my hands, and having seen the interest grow in the collecting of Russian silver and enamels, I set about translating
and collating all the information that I had collected over the years. Once it was ready for publishing Gemini Publications
came to my aid.
The
result is the most comprehensive work on makers, work masters, assay masters and towns, available in any language and
any print at the moment.
I
now confirm that you have my permission to retail my book through your website and fairs. I wish you every success with
your website sales and hope that my book is helpful to all your Russian collectors.
Regards
Geoff
.