CIRCA 1830, PROBABLY ST PETERSBURG

This type of lamp is called an 'omrakl' or 'miracle lamp' because of the effect produced by the semi-transparent screen when lit, as the screen glows and brings the picture or scene to life. Miracle lamps became highly fashionable at the Imperial Court and among the St. Petersburg élite. Various examples were executed for Tsarskoe Selo and are illustrated in I. Sychev, Russian Bronze, Moscow, 2003, pp. 127-128. G.K. Loukomski illustrates four further examples from the apartment of Maria Feodorovna in his Mobilier & Décoration des Anciens Palais Impériaux Russes, Paris/Brussels, 1928, Pl. LVIII, figs. 128-131. A miracle lamp depicting a view of the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, was sold at Christie's, London, 5 July 2007, lot 122 (£28,800 with premium).