Eastern Europe, Russia, ca. 1896 CE. A fascinating metal coronation cup of Tsar Nicholas II, known as the Khodynka Cup of Sorrows or Blood Cup, boasting an enameled decoration in hues of powder blue, red, and white, all enveloped by two lovely gilded bands at the base and rim. Presenting with a circular base, cylindrical body, and rolled rim, the antique vessel is adorned with the cyphers of Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna below a tiara and above "1896" on one side and the Romanov eagle on the other, both enveloped in a symmetrical geometric pattern. Size: 3.875" in diameter x 4.125" H (9.8 cm x 10.5 cm)

This cup was one of many presents handed out at the coronation of Tsar Nicholas II, along with bread, sausage, pretzels, gingerbread, and commemorative scarves. On the day of the coronation, May 18th, 1896, over half a million people gathered on the Khodynka Field in Moscow, which was more than the field could accommodate, in order to receive these gifts from their new tsar. After a rumor circulated that the cups contained a gold coin, a frenzied stampede of revelers caused a catastrophic crowd crush in which 1,389 people were killed and 1,300 more were injured. Despite his efforts to compensate the victims' families for their losses, the Tsar was nicknamed "Bloody Nicholas" and the Tsarina named the beaker the "Cup of Sorrows".

An identical Cup of Sorrows was sold by Christie's New York for $438.00 as lot 47 in Live Auction 2837 Russian Works of Art on April 8th, 2014 and another was sold by Sotheby's London for 1,063 GBP ($1,472.66) as lot 585 in "The Duchess Property & Precious Objects From the Estate of Mary, Duchess of Roxburghe" (Sale number L15317) auction on May 28th, 2015.

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection

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#161257

Chipping to enamel on rim and losses to periphery of base. Otherwise, excellent with impressive remaining pigments.