Eastern Europe, Russia, Moscow, Imperial Period, ca. late 19th to early 20th century CE. A fabulous pair of cloisonne enamel and high-quality silver dishes: a vessel in the form of a bird, known as a kovsh, and a spoon. First, the avian serving bowl appears as a seated duck with a long, flared tail and petite head presenting a tapered beak and a pair of inlaid garnet eyes. A sizable opening on the bird's back allows it to be used as a serving bowl. Both the vessel and the spoon are adorned with repousse that are covered with vibrant cloisonne in hues of blue, pink, white, green, yellow, and purple arranged in floral and vegetal motifs with some geometric or linear patterns. The 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. Size of largest: 5.5" L x 3.875" W x 3.625" H (14 cm x 9.8 cm x 9.2 cm); Silver quality: 97% (kovsh) and 94% (spoon); Weight: 178.5 grams (kovsh) and 28.6 grams (spoon)

On the base of the kovsh are 3 hallmarks. The first shows a face in profile to the right with the number "84," indicating the Russian silver purity. The second hallmark features a rectangle with Cyrillic script within, likely serving as a maker's mark. The third is a city mark and bears a double-headed eagle, designating that this lovely bird was made in Moscow. Alternatively, the spoon exhibits 2 hallmarks: 1 of the number "916" with a right facing profile and the other of 3 Cyrillic letters in a rectangle. These respectively indicate the Russian silver purity and the maker.

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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#120552

Both are intact and excellent with lovely patina on silver.