Russian Jewellery

Статья посвящена первым контактам представителей РСФСР и создаваемого независимого ирландского государства, результатом которых стали два денежных займа. Обеспечением для одного из них послужили так называемые «русские царские драгоценности». Драгоценности тайно хранились в Ирландии и были вовлечены в события ирландской политики. События, связанные с получением, перевозкой, хранением и возвращением СССР этих предметов, иллюстрируют, на взгляд автора, изменения в ирландско-советских отношениях. Упоминаются такие политические фигуры, как Гарри Боланд, Имон де Валера, Патрик МакКартан, Майкл Коллинз, Людвиг Мартенс, Сантери Нуортева, Георгий Николаевич Зарубин.
This article is devoted to the first contacts between the representatives of the Soviet Russia and the Irish Republic. As a result of these contacts there were two loans, which were given to the Soviet representatives in New York in 1920. The so-called “Russian Crown Jewels” secured one of the loans. The jewels were stored secretly in Ireland for about 30 years and even had been involved in some events of the Irish politics. In the author’s opinion, the events connected with the receipt, transportation, storage and return of those items to the USSR illustrate changes in the Irish-Soviet diplomatic relations. The author mentioned such political figures as Harry Boland, Eamon de Valera, Patrick McCartan, Michael Collins, Ludwig Martens, Santeri Nuorteva, Georgi Zaroubin.

Allan Bowe spent nearly half his life in Russia: first as an employee of Shanks & Bolin, then as a partner of Carl Fabergé and, eventually, as an independent trader in gemstones. Bowe assisted Fabergé to develop the House of Fabergé into the leading firm specialising in jewellery and silverware in Russia. As an equal partner, and efficient and progressive manager, Allan Bowe aided Carl Fabergé in establishing the largest jewellery and silverware factory in the country and oversaw the production in Moscow. Bowe also helped to open foreign markets for the company by setting up the London branch to channel the Fabergé exports.
Unlike Carl Fabergé, Bowe did not set himself lofty aims, such as advancement of Russian jewellery art. From artistic direction to development of business strategies, Fabergé’s contribution to their joint business , was far more significant than Bowe’s. Nevertheless, the commercial success of the House of Fabergé in Russia and abroad from the 1880s to the 1900s should also be attributed to the business acumen of his partner, South African-born immigrant Allan Bowe.