Wartski
Encyclopedia
Wartski is a family-owned firm of antique dealers specialising in Russian works of art; particularly those by Carl Fabergé, fine jewellery and silver. Founded in North Wales in 1865 the business is now located at 14 Grafton Street in Mayfair
, London
. The company holds royal appointment
s as Jewellers to H.M. the Queen and H.R.H. The Prince of Wales
.
by Morris Wartski in 1865, a refugee from the Tsarist pogroms, who had established, first, a jewellery business on Bangor's High Street, and then a drapery store. His son, Isidore, went on to develop the drapery business and to create a large, fashionable, store. He also developed the Castle Inn on High Street in Bangor, into the high-class Castle Hotel. He was a popular mayor of the city and a patron of local sports and charities. Wartski Fields were bequeathed to the city and people of Bangor by his widow, Winifred Marie, in memory of Isidore Wartski.
Another of Morris'sons went on to develop the jewellery part of the business into an international player. Morris Wartski's two sons, Harry and Charles, went into the business but when Charles was injured in a cycling accident, the business was moved in 1907 to the seaside town of Llandudno for the sake of his health. The Marquess of Anglesey
was the best customer and David Lloyd George
was engaged as the firm's lawyer. When Charles died in 1914, Harry ran the business with his father Morris and two brothers-in-law Mr S M Benjamin and Mr E Snowman. After the death of Morris Wartski and Mr Benjamin, Harry was joined in the business in Llandudno by his son, Charles Wartski, and a nephew, Cecil Manson. A second jewellery and antique establishment was opened in Mostyn street, Llandudno. So fond of Llandudno was Harry Wartski that when the firm opened a branch in London's Regent street 1n 1911, it was given the name of Wartski of Llandudno.
With the Russian revolution, many of the aristocracy took with them large quantities of jewellery made by Carl Faberge, jeweller to the Tsar. The pieces found their way into shops all over Europe. Harry Wartski painstakingly tracked them down and bought them for his shop. He and Mr Snowman also bought some pieces from the soviet government, which collection attracted Royal patronage to the firm. Emanuel Snowman travelled at the behest of Harry Wartski to the U.S.S.R. from 1925 to negotiate the purchase of former Romanoff jewels and objets d'art from the Antiquariat set up to attract essential foreign currency. When King Farouk was deposed, Charles Wartski, and nephew Kenneth Snowman (Emmanuel Snowman's son) went to Cairo to buy up some of the Egyptian crown jewels which also included many Faberge pieces.
(Abraham) Kenneth Snowman (1919-2002), ran the London shop and wrote standard works, The Art of Carl Fabergé (1953), followed by Carl Fabergé: Goldsmith to the Imperial Court of Russia and Eighteenth Century Gold Boxes of Europe (1966), written at the urging of Sacheverell Sitwell
. As a curator, Snowman organised the exhibitions of Febergé at the Victoria and Albert Museum
(1977) and at the Cooper-Hewitt Museum, New York (1983). He was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries
in 1994 and appointed CBE
for his services to the arts and to charitable institutions in 1997.
Wartski is owned by Nicholas Snowman, son of Kenneth and great grandson of Morris Wartski. Geoffrey Munn
is the present managing director of Wartski; his specialisation is 19th-century precious metalwork and Fabergé.
Wartski created the ring for the wedding of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine Middleton, which took place on April 29, 2011. The ring of the bride was fashioned from a piece of Welsh gold
given to Prince William by Queen Elizabeth II.
Mayfair
Mayfair is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster.-History:Mayfair is named after the annual fortnight-long May Fair that took place on the site that is Shepherd Market today...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. The company holds royal appointment
Court appointment
Court appointments are the traditional positions within a royal, ducal, or noble household. In the early medieval period, when such households were established, most court officials had either domestic or military duties; the monarch's closest advisers were those who served in the household...
s as Jewellers to H.M. the Queen and H.R.H. The Prince of Wales
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
.
History
The firm was founded in Bangor, North WalesBangor, Gwynedd
Bangor is a city in Gwynedd, north west Wales, and one of the smallest cities in Britain. It is a university city with a population of 13,725 at the 2001 census, not including around 10,000 students at Bangor University. Including nearby Menai Bridge on Anglesey, which does not however form part of...
by Morris Wartski in 1865, a refugee from the Tsarist pogroms, who had established, first, a jewellery business on Bangor's High Street, and then a drapery store. His son, Isidore, went on to develop the drapery business and to create a large, fashionable, store. He also developed the Castle Inn on High Street in Bangor, into the high-class Castle Hotel. He was a popular mayor of the city and a patron of local sports and charities. Wartski Fields were bequeathed to the city and people of Bangor by his widow, Winifred Marie, in memory of Isidore Wartski.
Another of Morris'sons went on to develop the jewellery part of the business into an international player. Morris Wartski's two sons, Harry and Charles, went into the business but when Charles was injured in a cycling accident, the business was moved in 1907 to the seaside town of Llandudno for the sake of his health. The Marquess of Anglesey
Marquess of Anglesey
Marquess of Anglesey is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1815 for Henry Paget, 2nd Earl of Uxbridge, a hero of the Battle of Waterloo...
was the best customer and David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
was engaged as the firm's lawyer. When Charles died in 1914, Harry ran the business with his father Morris and two brothers-in-law Mr S M Benjamin and Mr E Snowman. After the death of Morris Wartski and Mr Benjamin, Harry was joined in the business in Llandudno by his son, Charles Wartski, and a nephew, Cecil Manson. A second jewellery and antique establishment was opened in Mostyn street, Llandudno. So fond of Llandudno was Harry Wartski that when the firm opened a branch in London's Regent street 1n 1911, it was given the name of Wartski of Llandudno.
With the Russian revolution, many of the aristocracy took with them large quantities of jewellery made by Carl Faberge, jeweller to the Tsar. The pieces found their way into shops all over Europe. Harry Wartski painstakingly tracked them down and bought them for his shop. He and Mr Snowman also bought some pieces from the soviet government, which collection attracted Royal patronage to the firm. Emanuel Snowman travelled at the behest of Harry Wartski to the U.S.S.R. from 1925 to negotiate the purchase of former Romanoff jewels and objets d'art from the Antiquariat set up to attract essential foreign currency. When King Farouk was deposed, Charles Wartski, and nephew Kenneth Snowman (Emmanuel Snowman's son) went to Cairo to buy up some of the Egyptian crown jewels which also included many Faberge pieces.
(Abraham) Kenneth Snowman (1919-2002), ran the London shop and wrote standard works, The Art of Carl Fabergé (1953), followed by Carl Fabergé: Goldsmith to the Imperial Court of Russia and Eighteenth Century Gold Boxes of Europe (1966), written at the urging of Sacheverell Sitwell
Sacheverell Sitwell
Sir Sacheverell Sitwell, 6th Baronet CH was an English writer, best known as an art critic and writer on architecture, particularly the baroque. He was the younger brother of Dame Edith Sitwell and Sir Osbert Sitwell....
. As a curator, Snowman organised the exhibitions of Febergé at the Victoria and Albert Museum
Victoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum , set in the Brompton district of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England, is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects...
(1977) and at the Cooper-Hewitt Museum, New York (1983). He was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries
Society of Antiquaries of London
The Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...
in 1994 and appointed CBE
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
for his services to the arts and to charitable institutions in 1997.
Wartski is owned by Nicholas Snowman, son of Kenneth and great grandson of Morris Wartski. Geoffrey Munn
Geoffrey Munn
Geoffrey Munn is a British jewellery specialist and writer. He is best known as one of the experts on the BBC's Antiques Roadshow however his first television appearance was in the early 1960s when he, and his brother, Roger Munn, featured with their pet fox cubs on Johnny Morris's Animal Magic...
is the present managing director of Wartski; his specialisation is 19th-century precious metalwork and Fabergé.
Wartski created the ring for the wedding of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine Middleton, which took place on April 29, 2011. The ring of the bride was fashioned from a piece of Welsh gold
Welsh gold
Welsh gold is highly prized because of its origin and scarcity, and occurs naturally in two distinct areas of Wales. One area is in North Wales in a band stretching from Barmouth, past Dolgellau and up towards Snowdonia. This was mined at several mines, the largest of which were the Gwynfynydd Gold...
given to Prince William by Queen Elizabeth II.