Julius Alexandrovitch Rappoport, Russian silversmith, Fabergé workmaster. Born in 1864. Trained in Berlin, one of Fabergé’s rare craftsmen of Jewish origin. Julius Rappoport opened his own workshop in St. Petersburg at Ekatariniski Canal in 1883. Fabergé’s most important supplier of silver objects. He is best known for his naturalistic animal figures but also executed special commissions for the Imperial Family and the Imperial Cabinet.
Recently a few of these special commissions that were designed by Fabergé, and made by Rappoport, have been auctioned by Bonhams and Christies in London, England.
Samples of his work include a massive silver tankard made by Rappoport in St. Petersburg, circa 1908 which he retailed in Moscow.
This tankard, with gently waisted sides, is set with twelve silver roubles, each depicting a monarch in profile, including Peter the Great, Catherine I, Anna, Elizabeth, Peter III of Russia, Catherine II, Paul I of Russia, Alexander I, Nicholas I of Russia, Alexander II of Russia, Alexander III of Russia. What makes his work unique is the fact that you can see the rouble coins on both sides - inside the shell and of course, on the outside.
Within the boldly chased shell, the surrounds are rococo scrolls which simulate sea spray. The rounded top cover was set with a further rouble coin of Nicholas II of Russia. It has a scroll handle and acanthus thumbpiece.
In total, the height (including the thumbpiece) is 29 cm (11 in).
His master mark was on the articles: I.R. in Russian Cyrillic (I.P.). His workshop was taken over by the First Silver Artel around 1909. Died in 1916.