Eastern Europe, Russia, ca. late 19th century CE. A gorgeous pair of cloisonne enamel and gilded, high quality silver dishes: a serving dish known as a kovsh and a spoon. The elegant vessel exhibits an ovoid base, a bulbous body, and a circular rim, flanked by a pointed tab on one side and a lengthy handle that elegantly curves downwards on the other. Alternatively, the petite spoon presents a shallow bowl and a twisted handle with a flared tip. Both beautiful pieces are adorned with vibrant cloisonne in hues of blue, pink, green, yellow, purple, red, and white arranged into intricate floral and vegetal motifs accompanied by some geometric and linear patterns. Kovsh are traditional drinking vessels with shapes that may reflect Viking longships. Over the ages their designs and materials became more ornate, and pieces like this set eventually became symbolic gifts presented by the Tsar to important members of government or citizens. Silver quality: kovsh: 94.3%, spoon: 90%; Size of largest: 3.75" L x 1.75" W x 1.75" H (9.5 cm x 4.4 cm x 4.4 cm); Weight: kovsh: 66.8 grams, spoon: 19 grams

On the base of the serving dish are 3 hallmarks. The first shows a face in profile to the right with the number "88" to indicate Russian silver purity. The second hallmark is a double-headed eagle, indicating that it was made in Moscow, and the third is a maker's mark comprised of Cyrillic script. The spoon also displays 3 hallmarks, though these are located on the side of its stem: an assay mark, a makers mark, and "84" with a profile head designating the Russian silver purity.

From the mid-19th century to the early 20th, Russian art of all kinds experienced a renaissance that is known as the Silver Age. Russian artisans were inspired by the Gothic, the Moresque, Chinoiserie, the Baroque, the Rococo - all ornate styles, replete with scrolling vines and flourishing arches. They combined this with the bright colors and rich ornament of Old Russian applied art to create a unique style of which silver items like this vessel, are some of the most enduring. Later Russian artists in the 20th century recreated the styles pioneered by famous Russian silversmith firms like Ovchinnikov, Kurlyukov, the Grachev Brothers, and Faberge.

Provenance: ex-Collection of James Farmer, Maryland, acquired from major galleries and auction houses between 1995 and 2005

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#120556

Intact and excellent with lovely patina.