A La Vieille Russie
Preeminent Fabergé, jewelry, and Russian decorative arts dealer since 1851.
A La Vieille Russie — Faberge and Russian Decorative Arts Since 1851
A La Vieille Russie — known in the trade as ALVR — is one of the world's most important dealers in Faberge, antique jewelry, and Russian decorative arts. Its history spans from Kiev in 1851 to Paris in the 1920s and New York from the mid-20th century onward. The gallery has helped form virtually every major American Faberge collection and is recognized as a leading authority on Russian Imperial treasures, European gold snuff boxes, and fine antique jewelry.
From Kiev to New York
The business was established in Kiev in 1851, operating in a city where the workshops of Russia's great goldsmiths and jewellers were concentrated. Carl Faberge himself, whose shop was nearby, was a client of the original Kiev establishment — a detail that underscores the firm's proximity to the heart of Russian decorative arts from its very beginning.
Following the Russian Revolution, the firm was re-established in Paris around 1920 by Jacques Zolotnitsky, grandson of the founder. Paris in the interwar period was the center of the Russian emigre community and the natural marketplace for the treasures that had flowed out of the collapsed empire. Alexander Schaffer subsequently brought the firm to America, opening the first New York shop in Rockefeller Center. In 1941, A La Vieille Russie relocated to Fifth Avenue and 60th Street, and in 1961 moved to 59th Street, where it remained for 56 years. The gallery currently operates from a showroom at 745 Fifth Avenue.
Building the Great Collections
In America, ALVR quickly became the dominant force in the market for Faberge and Russian Imperial art. The gallery helped build all of the major American Faberge collections, including the Forbes Magazine Collection, many of which are now housed in museums such as the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Cleveland Museum of Art. This track record — assembling the most important private Faberge collections of the 20th century — is the foundation of the gallery's authority.
| Specialty | Period / Origin | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Faberge | Late 19th–early 20th century Russian | Helped form all major American collections |
| Antique Jewelry | European & American, various periods | Major New York dealer |
| Gold Snuff Boxes | 18th-century European | One of the foremost specialists globally |
| Russian Decorative Arts | Silver, enamel, porcelain, icons | Unmatched depth in the American market |
| Russian Paintings | Various periods | Selected works of fine art |
How ALVR Works
The gallery operates from its Fifth Avenue showroom by appointment and during regular hours. ALVR both buys and sells, acquiring pieces from estates, private collections, and at auction, and selling to collectors, institutions, and museums. The firm's tagline — "Where the unusual is usual" — reflects the caliber of objects that pass through the gallery. Given the specialized and high-value nature of the inventory, transactions are typically conducted with significant personal attention and scholarly documentation.
Who Should Visit A La Vieille Russie
ALVR is the essential destination for serious Faberge collectors and for anyone acquiring important Russian decorative arts. Collectors of 18th-century European gold snuff boxes will find few dealers with comparable expertise. The gallery's antique jewelry department also serves collectors seeking important European and American pieces. Museums and institutional buyers worldwide consider ALVR a primary source for Russian Imperial treasures.
Frequently Asked Questions
ALVR specializes in Faberge objects, European and American antique jewelry, 18th-century European gold snuff boxes, and Russian decorative arts including silver, enamel, porcelain, icons, paintings, and furniture.
Yes. In the firm's original Kiev location, Carl Faberge — whose own shop was nearby — was himself a client. This historical connection predates the gallery's later role as the world's leading Faberge dealer.
ALVR helped form all of the major American Faberge collections, including the Forbes Magazine Collection. Many of these collections are now housed in institutions such as the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Cleveland Museum of Art.
The gallery is at 745 Fifth Avenue, Suite 415, in New York City. The firm moved to this location in 2017 after 56 years at its previous address on 59th Street.
Yes. ALVR regularly acquires Faberge objects, Russian decorative arts, antique jewelry, and gold snuff boxes from private sellers and estates. Contact the gallery with photographs and any provenance documentation for an initial assessment.
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