The fireplace is found on the first floor of Massandra palace in the State Dining Room and is richly decorated with majolica tiles. It is undoubtedly the centerpiece of the room, highlighting and resonating with the general dining room design. The front of its smoke chamber is covered with carved wood panels. Its fire grate, ash drawer and lintel are made of brass.
Majolica-tiled surface between the framing wood panels and the marble mantel is wonderfully preserved.
The tiles, made in Emil Kraemer ceramic workshop, are decorated with underglaze painting. Geometric or flower patterns are transferred onto tiles through a stencil. This particular fireplace design creates an illusion of a relief surface.
The fireplace was created by Emil Otto Kraemer (1863-1917), a ceramic artist who graduated from and later was a teacher in Baron von Stieglitz’s Central School of Technical Drawing in Saint Petersburg. In 1902 he was appointed head of the painting workshop of the Imperial Porcelain Factory. Kraemer is also known for creating ceramic interior decoration for Grand Duke Vladimir’s palace in Saint Petersburg and later for Massandra palace that belonged to Emperor Alexander III.
Emil Kraemer graduated from Baron von Stieglitz’s Central School of Technical Drawing in 1887, being one of the best students at majolica class. After graduating from the School, he was awarded with the title of “Honorary Draftsman” and the right to continue his studies abroad. He chose to go to Vienna to master his professional skills. During his studies in Vienna, he mastered theory and practice of ceramic production in the Imperial School of Arts and Crafts and later had a course of applied chemistry in a laboratory at the University of Applied Arts.
After finishing his studies, Emil Kraemer had a fruitful partnership with an architect Maximilian Messmacher, who invited him to complete interior decorations in his buildings in Saint Petersburg and Tsarksoe Selo. The palace in the Massandra estate was one of their biggest collaborative projects.
Majolica-tiled surface between the framing wood panels and the marble mantel is wonderfully preserved.
The tiles, made in Emil Kraemer ceramic workshop, are decorated with underglaze painting. Geometric or flower patterns are transferred onto tiles through a stencil. This particular fireplace design creates an illusion of a relief surface.
The fireplace was created by Emil Otto Kraemer (1863-1917), a ceramic artist who graduated from and later was a teacher in Baron von Stieglitz’s Central School of Technical Drawing in Saint Petersburg. In 1902 he was appointed head of the painting workshop of the Imperial Porcelain Factory. Kraemer is also known for creating ceramic interior decoration for Grand Duke Vladimir’s palace in Saint Petersburg and later for Massandra palace that belonged to Emperor Alexander III.
Emil Kraemer graduated from Baron von Stieglitz’s Central School of Technical Drawing in 1887, being one of the best students at majolica class. After graduating from the School, he was awarded with the title of “Honorary Draftsman” and the right to continue his studies abroad. He chose to go to Vienna to master his professional skills. During his studies in Vienna, he mastered theory and practice of ceramic production in the Imperial School of Arts and Crafts and later had a course of applied chemistry in a laboratory at the University of Applied Arts.
After finishing his studies, Emil Kraemer had a fruitful partnership with an architect Maximilian Messmacher, who invited him to complete interior decorations in his buildings in Saint Petersburg and Tsarksoe Selo. The palace in the Massandra estate was one of their biggest collaborative projects.
