Starting this blog with the lovely enameled American eagle that hangs on my living room wall and a May 4, 1969 Stuart News article that shows Serge Nekrassoff holding what seems to be an identical plate lets readers know immediately a great deal about the subject of this and future blogs.
The Elliott Museum is showing 50 stunning replica Faberge’ Imperial Eggs. https://hsmc-fl.com/exibits/ When I attended the preview reception in September, I couldn’t help but think of our own Serge Nekrassoff, from Imperial Russia, who lived among us and produced beautiful copper enameled pieces.
As this tag states, Serge became a metalsmith in Paris in 1920 and moved to the USA in 1925.
Serge Nekrassoff was born February 10, 1895 into a family of landed gentry living near St. Petersburg, Russia. He was an officer in the Imperial Guard in 1917. During the Russian revolution, he fled across Europe, working in coal mines in Germany and as a taxi driver in Paris before finding employment with a metalsmith. In Paris, he learned to make everyday objects of copper and brought his skills to the United States where he ultimately set up a workshop in New York City.
He met and married another Russian émigré, Mary Leslie, who had a young son, Boris, who Serge adopted. The family moved to Darien, Connecticut where Serge expanded his metal crafting business, employing as many as 18 assistants. His pieces were sold to high-end stores like Abercrombie and Fitch Co.
During WW II, when metals were unavailable, Serge turned to photography. In 1943, the Nekrassoffs purchased waterfront property in Port Sewall next to Sandspit Park and for a short time Serge had a photography shop in Stuart. After the war, when metals again became available, the Florida property was sold and the Nekrassoffs returned to Darien.
Boris who entered the U.S. Army and became a paratrooper, participated in the “battle of the bulge.” After the war he rejoined his parents and began working with his father. The firm then became S. Nekrassoff & Son.
After experiencing life in Martin County the Nekrassoff family wanted to return, In 1946 they once again bought waterfront property in Port Sewall, this time on Willoughby Creek across from Whiticar Boat Works.
In 1950 Serge and Boris Nekrassoff built a workshop and sales office on U.S. 1, across from today’s Martin Square Shopping Center where Home Depot is located.
MORE NEKRASSOFF BLOGS TO FOLLOW.