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| Russian Silver Trompe L'Oeil Kvass Jug
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Reference: S1309
Period: Victorian
Year: 1888
Silversmith: Vasily Ivanov
Place: St. Petersburg
Price: $ 1 150.00
Weight: 130 grams
Dimensions: 9.5cm height
Condition: Good, few small dents on bulbous body, and small nick in base.
Description: An unusual Russian silver kvass jug in Trompe L'Oeil style ("deceive the eye"), which is a type of chased decoration designed to imitate a surface or texture, to create a 3D impression. The jug is typically Russian in style, and the texturing imitates rush work or raffia (woven birch wood strips). The detail is amongst the best we have seen, the silversmith was definitely a true artist. The interior of the jug is gilded, and the hallmarks on the base are clear, although part of the makers mark is worn. The handle also has the St Petersburg hallmark. The assay master is Aleksandr Frans Fan der Flit (or van der Vliet), who worked in St Petersburg 1882 to 1894, his Cyrillic initials are AF, source www.925-1000.com. This assay master is described as unknown by Watts (Russian Silversmiths Hallmarks 1700-1917, Geoffrey Watts, pg 73). We are not experts on cyrillic makers marks, so are not certain we have correctly identified the maker - all opinions welcome. Kvass is a traditional Russian and Ukrainian fermented beverage made from black or rye bread, with little or no alcohol, often flavoured with fruit. Very similar silver kvass jugs have been produced by Faberge (1896, sold at Christies June 2008) and Sazikov (1857, Bonhams)
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Russian Silver Vodka Jug
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Gilt interior
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Detail showing dent
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Scale
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Hallmarks
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St Petersburg townmark on handle
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