Grachev Brothers | 562

Grachev Brothers was a renowned Russian goldsmith and jewelry company, founded in 1866 in St. Petersburg by Gavriil Petrovich Grachev. After his death, the business was taken over by his sons: Mikhail (born 1863), Simeon (born 1870), Aleksei (born 1866), Nikolai (born 1870), Gavriil (born 1873), Pyotr (born 1874), Ivan (born 1875), and Grigory (born 1868). The company was famous for its wide range of products, from gold and silver items to silver-plated, enamelled, and bronze works, as well as diamond jewelry, which was highly valued by discerning clients.

In 1892, the company had an annual turnover of around 125,000 rubles and employed 87 craftsmen. Its products were signed with its own brand and the marks of the masters working for the firm. The Grachevs gained international recognition, as evidenced by numerous honors: in 1886, the company was appointed Royal Court Supplier to Denmark, and in 1892, it was granted the title of Supplier to the Imperial Court of Tsar Alexander III, with Mikhail Grachev being appointed an Expert of the Cabinet. In 1901, the title of Imperial Court Supplier was confirmed by a special honorary document.

The high quality of the Grachevs' products was appreciated at many international exhibitions: in 1888, their works were awarded in Copenhagen, and in 1889, Mikhail Grachev was awarded the Order of St. Stanislaus for their participation in the exhibition. The company also participated in the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago and the 1896 exhibition in Nizhny Novgorod, winning the top prizes at both. In 1897, Mikhail and Grigory Grachev were granted hereditary citizenship of St. Petersburg.

In 1900, the large trading house "Brothers Grachev" was established, with Mikhail and Simeon as the main partners, while the other brothers were shareholders. The Grachev shop was located on Nevsky Prospect, in the heart of St. Petersburg. Unfortunately, the business was closed in 1918, leaving behind a remarkable legacy in the fields of jewelry art and craftsmanship.