RUSSIAN DECORATIVE ARTS – Group of nine books on Russian decorative arts, from Mrs. Wrightsman’s personal library, many inscribed presentation copies. 20-21st centuries.

Nine volumes, various sizes. Many in publisher’s bindings, some with original dust jackets and archival boxes. Includes texts in English, French, and Russian.
The Wrightsmans' relationship with Russia began in 1921, when Mr. Wrightsman led trade talks between Standard Oil of Kansas and the Soviet Union’s petroleum industry, emboldened by the New Economic Plan. Drawn to Russia’s synthesis of European Decorative arts, Mrs. Wrightsman sponsored a historic exchange of over 200 objects that had never previously left Eurasia for exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum, and eventually underwrote an extensive renovation of the Hermitage’s ancient art collection.