Collectors from rapidly-growing economies like China, Russia and the Middle East are increasingly making their presence felt at the world's top auctions.
And, with the population of the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) set to double in the next 40 years - from circa one to two billion - these trends are set to continue.
Many wealthy buyers in these countries are devoting themselves to building the world's greatest collections, often which a desire to repatriate the finest collectibles to their homeland.
We've focused on Chinese collectibles a lot recently. But how about rare Russian collectibles? Two examples are appearing for sale at a Boynton Beach, Florida auction on February 25.
The first is an Imperial Russian enameled silver and agate boar's head cup. The cup is decorated with cabochon ruby jewels alongside the Faberge Cyrillic mark and a double-headed eagle.
 An Imperial Russian enameled silver and agate boar's head cup |
The piece is estimated at $40,000-$50,000, and measures 7 ½ inches tall. The lucky winning bidder will receive the rare wooden cup in a handsome fitted wooden presentation box.
Auctioning alongside it is a very rare Imperial Russian enameled silver plique a jour Judaica spice tower centrepiece. The antique bears Moscow silversmith Pavel Akimov Ovchinnikov's mark alongside silver purity marks.
Measuring 17 ½ inches tall by 6 ½ inches wide, and weighing 33.2 troy ounces, the rare piece of Russian silverware is estimated at $35,000-$45,000.
So, will be these rare Russian antiques be repatriated to their homeland? Or find new homes in collections elsewhere?
Either way, these are just two examples of the great calibre of Russian collectibles which are available to collectors.
