Wine ladle
- Place of origin:
- Date:
- Artist/Maker:
- Materials and Techniques:
Silver, parcel-gilt, engraved
- Credit Line:
Given by Dr. W. L.Hildburgh FSA
- Museum number:
- Gallery location:
- Download image
The kovsh, an oval drinking vessel, first appeared in Russia in the mid 14th century. It was variously used as a ladle, container or drinking vessel. At a celebration in the Kremlin Palace in 1667 the lord high stewards of the Tsar served wine in silver beakers but red or white mead in gold and silver kovshi. Large ones were presented as rewards for service. From the 1650s it appears from surviving examples that only profitable tax collectors and Cossack chieftains loyal to the Russian Empire were rewarded kovshi. This one was presented to Kadashevets Lareshnov (in Russian, Petr Ivanov) of the Kazan Tartar family of Lebedev, for collecting taxes exceeding the estimated total in the Russian year [7]199 (1691).
Physical description
Shallow oval ladle raised from a single sheet with a badge showing a double-headed eagle set in the base beside a crest, engraved with foliage and scrollwork in Floral Baroque style, with Russian inscription around outer rim.
Place of Origin
Russia (made)
Date
1691 (dated)
Artist/maker
Unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
Silver, parcel-gilt, engraved
Marks and inscriptions
Cyrillic inscription in medallions
Around the lip engraved in cyrillic: 'Favoured with this ladle Kadashevets Lareshnov, Peter, son of Ivan [son] Lebedev in that being at Sevsk at the collection of customs and at Pitienaya he came and in this year brought forth for this present hundred and ninety and ninth year three hundred and five rubles, seven altyns in money.'
Unmarked
Dimensions
Height: 11.60 cm, Length: 30.50 cm, Width: 18.50 cm
Object history note
Acquisition RF: 23/1851
Dr WL Hildburgh FSA Gift (bought from the Wimborne Collection Sale, Christie’s, 8 March 1923, lot 317)
Inscription: Russian inscription in medallions translates as: (1) DEI GRATIA NOS MAGNI DOMINI CASARES ET MAGNIDUCES (2) JOHN SON OF ALEXIS AND PETER SON OF ALEXIS (3) TOTIUS MAGNAE PARVAE ET CANDIDAE (4) RUSSIAE AUTOCRATORES; around the lip is engraved in cyrillic: Favoured with this ladle Kadashevets Lareshnov, Peter, son of Ivan [son] Lebedev in that being at Sevsk at the collection of customs and at Pitienaya he came and in this year brought forth for this present hundred and ninety and ninth year three hundred and five rubles, seven altyns in money.
Register states that, from the inscription, the ladle was presented to Kadashevets Lareshnov (or, in Russian, Petr Ivanov) of the well-known Kazan Tartar family of Lebedev, for having paid his share at a levy of taxes held at Sevsk (near Kazan), and at another, as well as an extra 305r 7a for the year [7]199 (1691AD). The Wimborne motto FERRO NON GLADIO and crest has been added later.
Labels and date
Silver Gallery:
The kovsh, an oval drinking vessel, first appeared in Russia in the mid-14th century and was variously used as a ladle, container or drinking vessel. At a celebration in the Kremlin Palace in 1667 the lord high stewards of the Tsar served wine in silver beakers but red or white mead in gold and silver kovshi. Large ones were presented as rewards for service. From the 1650s it appears from surviving examples that only tax collectors and Cossack chieftains were rewarded kovshi. This one was presented to Kadashevets Lareshnov (in Russian, Petr Ivanov) of the Kazan Tartar family of Lebedev, for collecting taxes exceeding the estimated total in the Russian year [7]199 (1691). [26/11/2002]
Categories
Drinking; Metalwork
Collection code
MET
