Stories in Stone: The Enchanted Gem Carvings of Vasily Konovalenko

By Stephen E. Nash, Richard M. Wicker, James W. Hagadorn and Tatiana Muntian

Vasily Konovalenko’s unique, dynamic, and theatrical sculptures stand alone in the gem-carving world—bawdy but not salacious, political but not diplomatic, boisterous and exuberant yet occasionally sensitive. Stories in Stone offers the first comprehensive treatment of the life of this little-known Russian artist and the remarkable history of his wonderful sculptures.
 
Part art catalogue and part life history, Stories in Stone tells the tale of Konovalenko’s impressive works, explaining their conception, creation, and symbolism. Each handcrafted figure depicts a scene from life in the Soviet Union—a bowman hunting snow geese, a woman reposing in a hot spring surrounded by ice, peasants spinning wool, a pair of gulag prisoners sawing lumber—painstakingly rendered in precious stones and metals. The materials used to make the figurines are worth millions of dollars, but as cultural artifacts, the sculptures are priceless. Author Stephen Nash draws upon oral history and archival research to detail the life of their creator, revealing a rags-to-riches and life-imitates-art narrative full of Cold War intrigue, Communist persecution, and capitalist exploitation.
 
Augmented by Richard M. Wicker’s exquisite and revelatory photographs of sixty-five Konovalenko sculptures from museums, state agencies, and private collections around the world, Stories in Stone is a visually stunning glimpse into a unique corner of Russian art and cultural history, the craft and science of gem carving, and the life of a Russian artist and immigrant who loved people everywhere.
 
Co-published with the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, home to the most significant collection of Russian gem-carving sculptures by Vasily Konovalenko in the world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: University Press of Colorado
• Release date: Jul 7, 2016
• ISBN: 9781607325031

Book preview

Stories in Stone

The Enchanted Gem Carvings of Vasily Konovalenko

Stephen E. Nash

With photographs by Richard M. Wicker

And contributions from James W. Hagadorn and Tatiana Muntian

Denver Museum of Nature & Science University Press of Colorado

© 2016 by the Denver Museum of Nature & Science

Published by the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and University Press of Colorado

2001 Colorado Boulevard

Denver, CO 80205

5589 Arapahoe Avenue, Suite 206C

Boulder, Colorado 80303

The University Press of Colorado is a proud member of the Association of American University Presses.

The University Press of Colorado is a cooperative publishing enterprise supported, in part, by Adams State University, Colorado State University, Fort Lewis College, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Regis University, University of Colorado, University of Northern Colorado, Utah State University, and Western State Colorado University.

All rights reserved

Printed in South Korea

This paper meets the requirements of the ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992 (Permanence of Paper).

ISBN: 978-1-60732-502-4 (pbk.)

ISBN: 978-1-60732-503-1 (ebook)

DOI: 10.5876/9781607325031

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Nash, Stephen E. (Stephen Edward), 1964– author. | Wicker, Richard M., illustrator. | Hagadorn, James W. (James Whitey) | Muntian, Tatiana.

Title: Stories in stone : the enchanted gem carvings of Vasily Konovalenko / Stephen E. Nash ; with photographs by Richard M. Wicker ; and contributions from James W. Hagadorn and Tatiana Muntian.

Description: Boulder : University Press of Colorado, [2016] | Includes bibliographical references.

Identifiers: LCCN 2015043009 | ISBN 9781607325024 (pbk.) | ISBN 9781607325031 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Konovalenko, Vasily, 1929–1989. | Gem carving—20th century. | Stone carvers—Russia—Biography. | Stone carvers—United States—Biography.

Classification: LCC NB699.K62 N37 2016 | DDC 736/.5—dc23

LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015043009

Design and typeset by Daniel Pratt

Contents

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Figures

Plates

Acknowledgments

Foreword

COREY FLINTOFF

Prologue: Improbable Beginnings

Chapter 1: Life Imitates Art, 1957–73

Chapter 2: Celebration and Persecution, 1973–81

Chapter 3: Free at Last? Capitalism, New York, and Denver, 1981–84

Chapter 4: Crescendos and Finales, 1984–89

Chapter 5: Unfinished Business

Chapter 6: Mineralogical Maestro

JAMES W. HAGADORN

Chapter 7: Konovalenko and the Greater Russian Gem-Carving Tradition

TATIANA MUNTIAN

Epilogue

References Cited

About the Authors

Index

Figures

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0.1. Steve Nash and Corey Flintoff at the State Gems Museum, March 2013 (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-543.D)

1.1. Vasily Konovalenko at the Mariinsky Theater, mid-1950s. (Courtesy, Anna Konovalenko)

1.2. The Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg, March 2013 (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-552)

2.1. Konovalenko with Sultry Midday at the State Gems Museum, Moscow, 1973. (Courtesy, Anna Konovalenko)

3.1. Konovalenko with Grandmother at Denver Museum of Natural History, 1984 (DMNS Neg. No. ATR.4.3-2-5)

3.2. Russian novelist and dissident Alexander Solzhenitsyn on the day he was released from the gulag in March 1953 (Getty Images No. 89868249)

4.1. Finished sculptural hand resting in Konovalenko’s hand. (Courtesy, Anna Konovalenko)

4.2. Steve Nash at St. Basil’s Cathedral, Moscow, 2013 (DMNS Neg. No. Nash_Steve_Moscow1)

5.1. Konovalenko enjoying a winter day with his St. Bernard, mid-1960s. (Courtesy, Anna Konovalenko)

8.1. Konovalenko self-portrait, bas-relief, pewter on marble, ca. 1988. (Courtesy, Anna Konovalenko)

Plates

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1. Brazhniki (1959), Gokhran collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-158.D)

2. Brazhniki (1959) detail, Gokhran collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-159.D)

3. Brazhniki (1959) detail, Gokhran collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-160.D)

4. Brazhniki (1959) detail, Gokhran collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-161.D)

5. Danila (1959), Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-180.D)

6. Danila (1959) detail, Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-182.D)

7. Danila (1959) detail, Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-183.D)

8. Danila (1959) detail, Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-184.D)

9. Fishing (1966), Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-187.D)

10. Fishing (1966) detail, Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-188.D)

11. Fishing (1966) detail, Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-189.D)

12. Fishing (1966) detail, Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-191.D)

13. Fishing (1966) detail, Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-190.D)

14. Grandma and Grandpa (1963), Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-193.D)

15. Grandma and Grandpa (1963) detail, Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-194.D)

16. Grandma and Grandpa (1963) detail, Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-195.D)

17. Ice Fishing (1968), Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-197.D)

18. Ice Fishing (1968) detail, Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-198.D)

19. Ice Fishing (1968) detail, Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-200.D)

20. Ice Fishing (1968) detail, Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-201.D)

21. Ice Fishing (1968) detail, Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-199.D)

22. Organ Grinder (1967) detail, Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-208.D)

23. Organ Grinder (1967) detail, Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-210.D)

24. Organ Grinder (1967) detail, Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-211.D)

25. Organ Grinder (1967) detail, Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-212.D)

26. Tea Drinker (1971), Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-225.D)

27. Tea Drinker (1971) detail, Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-226.D)

28. Tea Drinker (1971) detail, Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-227.D)

29. Tea Drinker (1971) detail, Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-228.D)

30. Tsar’s Henchman (1970), Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-173.D)

31. Tsar’s Henchman (1970) detail, Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-174.D)

32. Tsar’s Henchman (1970) detail, Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-175.D)

33. Warrior (1961), Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-229.D)

34. Warrior (1961) detail, Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-231.D)

35. Warrior (1961) detail, Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-232.D)

36. Warrior (1961) detail, Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-230.D)

37. Welcome (1959), Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-233.D)

38. Welcome (1959) detail, Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-235.D)

39. Welcome (1959) detail, Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-234.D)

40. Welcome (1959) detail, Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-236.D)

41. Zemfira (1973), Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-238.D)

42. Zemfira (1973), Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-240.D)

43. Zemfira (1973), Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-241.D)

44. A Fox and a Beaver (1973), Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-162.D)

45. A Fox and a Beaver (1973) detail, Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-163.D)

46. A Fox and a Beaver (1973) detail, Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-165.D)

47. A Fox and a Beaver (1973) detail, Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-164.D)

48. A Fox and a Beaver (1973) detail, Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-166.D)

49. Bereaved Mother (ca. 1974), Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-168.D)

50. Bereaved Mother (ca. 1974) detail, Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-167.D)

51. Breshnev in Crystal (1973), private collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2012-447.D)

52. Cossack (1979), Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-169.D)

53. Cossack (1979) detail, Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-170.D)

54. Cossack (1979) detail, Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-172.D)

55. Lenin (1981), private collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2012-448.D)

56. Likbez (1981), Gokhran collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-151.D)

57. Likbez (1981) detail, Gokhran collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-157.D)

58. Likbez (1981) detail, Gokhran collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-155.D)

59. Likbez (1981) detail, Gokhran collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-153.D)

60. Likbez (1981) detail, Gokhran collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-154.D)

61. Likbez (1981) detail, Gokhran collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-156.D)

62. Old Souls (1981), Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-203.D)

63. Old Souls (1981) detail, Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-207.D)

64. Old Souls (1981) detail, Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-204.D)

65. Old Souls (1981) detail, Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-205.D)

66. Picking Mushrooms (1972), Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-213.D)

67. Picking Mushrooms (1972) detail, Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-214.D)

68. Picking Mushrooms (1972) detail, Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-215.D)

69. Picking Mushrooms (1972) detail, Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-216.D)

70. Sultry Midday (1973), Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-222.D)

71. Sultry Midday (1973) detail, Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-224.D)

72. Sultry Midday (1973) detail, Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-222)

73. Sultry Midday (1973) detail, Samotsvety collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-223.D)

74. Tsar’s Henchman (1979), private collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-176.D)

75. Tsar’s Henchman (1979) detail, private collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-177.D)

76. Tsar’s Henchman (1979) detail, private collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-178.D)

77. Tsar’s Henchman (1979) detail, private collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-179.D)

78. Barrel Bath (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-6.b)

79. Barrel Bath detail (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-6.d)

80. Barrel Bath detail (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-6.e)

81. Bosom Pals (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-15.c)

82. Bosom Pals reverse (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-15.f)

83. Bosom Pals detail (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-15.u)

84. Bread and Salt (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-12.d)

85. Bread and Salt detail (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-12.g)

86. Gold Prospectors (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-3.i)

87. Gold Prospectors detail (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-3.r)

88. Gold Prospectors detail (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-3.o)

89. Gold Prospectors detail (DMNS Neg. No. IOS.SCULP.132-4.d)

90. Gold Prospectors detail (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-3.dd)

91. Grandmother (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-1.h)

92. Grandmother detail (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-1.q)

93. Grandmother detail (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-1.x)

94. Ice Fishing (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-9.d)

95. Ice Fishing detail (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-9.j)

96. Ice Fishing detail (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-9.p)

97. In the Sultry Afternoon I (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-18.d)

98. In the Sultry Afternoon I detail (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1.18.h)

99. In the Sultry Afternoon II (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1.10.f)

100. In the Sultry Afternoon II detail (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1.10.w)

101. In the Sultry Afternoon II detail (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1.10.p)

102. In the Sultry Afternoon II detail (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1.10.z)

103. Laundress (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1.17.d)

104. Laundress detail (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1.17.h)

105. Mower (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1.11.f)

106. Mower detail (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1.11.z)

107. Mower detail (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1.11.p)

108. On the Stroll (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-4.c)

109. On the Stroll detail (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-4.z)

110. Painter (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-2.a)

111. Painter detail (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-2.g)

112. Painter detail (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-2.z)

113. Prisoners (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-20.h)

114. Prisoners detail (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-20.aa)

115. Prisoners detail (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-20.r)

116. Prisoners detail (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-20.u)

117. Prisoners detail (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-20.y)

118. Sauna I: The Thin and the Fat (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-13.d)

119. Sauna I: The Thin and the Fat detail (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-13.l)

120. Sauna I: The Thin and the Fat detail (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-13.t)

121. Sauna II: Woman (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-7.d)

122. Sauna II: Woman detail (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-7.y)

123. Sauna II: Woman detail (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-7.m)

124. Sauna II: Woman detail (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-7.p)

125. Sauna II: Woman, clay model. Private collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2012-461)

126. Sauna II: Woman, clay model detail. Private collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2012-463)

127. Spring (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-14.m)

128. Spring detail (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-14.n)

129. Spring, sketch. (Courtesy, Anna Konovalenko)

130. Swan Song (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-16.d)

131. Swan Song detail (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-16.s)

132. Swan Song detail (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-16.i)

133. Toper (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-5.b)

134. Toper detail (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-5.o)

135. Toper detail (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-5.j)

136. Walruses (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-8.i)

137. Walruses detail (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1-8.w)

138. Wanderer (Old Believer) (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1.19.h)

139. Wanderer (Old Believer) detail (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1.19.m)

140. Wanderer (Old Believer) detail (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1.19.z)

141. Wanderer (Old Believer) detail (DMNS Neg. No. IV.DMF.1.19.o)

142. Accordion Player. Private collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2012-483.D)

143. Accordion Player detail. Private collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2012-485.D)

144. Balalaika Player I. Private collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2012-404.D)

145. Balalaika Player I detail. Private collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2012-406.D)

146. Balalaika Player I detail. Private collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2012-407.D)

147. Balalaika Player I detail. Private collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2012-408.D)

148. Balalaika Player I detail. Private collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2012-410.D)

149. Balalaika Player II. Private collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2014-32-1a)

150. Balalaika Player II detail. Private collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2014-32.5)

151. Balalaika Player II detail. Private collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2014-32.6)

152. Bosom Pals at St. Basil’s Cathedral. Private collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013-566.D)

153. Bratina. Private collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2012-418-a.D)

154. Bratina detail. Private collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2012-424.D)

155. Cane Handle detail. Private collection (DMNS Neg. No. 2014-33-2)

156. Cane Handle detail. Private collection (DMNS Neg. No. 2014-33-3)

157. Cane Handle detail. Private collection (DMNS Neg. No. 2014-33-4)

158. Cane Handle. Private collection (DMNS Neg. No. 2014-33-1)

159. Fisherman I. Private collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2012-426.D)

160. Fisherman I detail. Private collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2012-427.D)

161. Fisherman I detail. Private collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2012-431.D)

162. Fisherman II. Private collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2012-433.D)

163. Fisherman II detail. Private collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2012-435.D)

164. Fisherman II detail. Private collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2012-436.D)

165. Fisherman III. Private collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2011-166-1.D)

166. Fisherman III detail. Private collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2011-166-3.D)

167. Fisherman III detail. Private collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2011-166-6)

168. Grandfather and Grandson. Private collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013.560.D)

169. Grandfather and Grandson. Private collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013.565.D)

170. Grandfather and Grandson. Private collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2013.563.D)

171. Gypsies. Private collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2012-163-1.D)

172. Gypsies detail. Private collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2012-163-3.D)

173. Gypsies detail. Private collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2012-163-2.D)

174. Gypsies detail. Private collection (DMNS Neg. No. IV.2012-163-9.D)

175. Gypsies detail. Private collection (DMNS Neg. No.