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 SMP Silver Salon Forums
 Continental / International Silver
 Russian teaspoon
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| Author | Topic: Russian teaspoon |
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tmockait Posts: 963 |
posted 12-21-2005 10:00 PM
  
I believe this spoon was made between 1908 and 1917. The letter beneath the women's head looks like a Greek Tau, which I know is a district mark. Unfortunately, I don't know which district. Can anyone help with the id, including the maker. Also, is there a list of Russian district marks? Thanks, PS I am also testing out the new Canon Powershot A620 I got (OK, so I opened my Xmas present early) IP: Logged |
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argentum1 Posts: 602 |
posted 12-22-2005 06:24 AM
To get rid of the glare try making a light box as has been discussed here before OR you could be as cheap as I am and try this. Take a piece of white cardboard, or stick white paper to regular cardboard,it could be square or round. Cut a hole in the center to fit snugly over the lens. Put the cardboard over the lens and shine some sort of directional light onto the cardboard. I used a spotlight the type that has an aluminum dish-like shade with a clamp. You will have to angle the camera a bit to get the object illuminated. This does a decent job and cost me less than $8.00 IP: Logged |
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sazikov2000 Posts: 254 |
posted 12-22-2005 08:32 AM
Here are the different district(town)marks you find on the Kokoschnik, in use for the years 1908-1926: Alpha St. Petersburg Delta Moscow Kappa Odessa Ny Kiev Omikron Caucasus Pi Vilnius Sigma Riga Tau Kostroma Ypsilon Kasan Chi Don The silversmith of your spoon is (Lat.) IWK: Kosin, Iwan Wasiljev Sazikov 2000 IP: Logged |
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tmockait Posts: 963 |
posted 12-22-2005 02:50 PM
Sazikov, Thanks for the very helpful information. Can you tell me more about the maker, and is it possible to narrow the date any more? Argentum, Thanks for the photo tip. I will definitely go the cheap route, since I overspent on the camera and had to "bribe" my wife with the promise of a new sewing machine! I had better luck taking pictures with natural daylight against a white background. I edited my post to include these new images. Happy Holidays, IP: Logged |
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sazikov2000 Posts: 254 |
posted 12-22-2005 08:34 PM
Kosin worked in the Kostroma district in the town of Krasnoje in the year 1908 and mostly made spoons. Sazikov 2000 IP: Logged |
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tmockait Posts: 963 |
posted 12-22-2005 10:15 PM
Thanks Sazikov! Happy Holidays, Tom IP: Logged |
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tmockait Posts: 963 |
posted 12-28-2005 10:27 PM
I saw almost identical to this one identified as "an egg spoon." I thought it was a tea spoon. Can anyone clarify this matter? Thanks, IP: Logged |
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IJP Posts: 326 |
posted 12-29-2005 08:34 PM
My understanding is that all such spoons as above are teaspoons. The ovoid bowl is very typical. The fanciful designation of "egg spoon" occurs a lot, but I believe it's entirely arbitrary. In fact, the Postnikova-Loseva reference, which includes a very thorough list of piece-types in Russian silverwork, makes no mention of any flatware piece designed for use with eggs. I would imagine that if any were ever made for that purpose, they were never common enough to mention. The Postnikova-Loseva text mentions "table" spoons, dessert spoons, marrow spoons, fish soup spoons, teaspoons, coffee spoons, and a mysterious piece called a "punch" spoon (To S2K: If you have any examples of those, I'd love to see). Full translations of the Postnikova-Loseva passages on piece types are available here (Пocyдa и Убpaнcтвo Cтoлa). The passage on spoons is about halfway through the post. In regard to Russian silver, because the forms are somewhat exotic in comparison to those of Western Europe, many westerners use whimsical names for what in Russia were very ordinary pieces. The fact that there are few very complete references in English that explore the subject only compounds the matter. IP: Logged |
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tmockait Posts: 963 |
posted 12-29-2005 09:25 PM
IJP, Very informative! Thanks and Happy New Year, IP: Logged |
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sazikov2000 Posts: 254 |
posted 01-04-2006 11:52 AM
Mostly at eBay auctions Russian spoons are called "egg spoon", "caviar spoon" (you never touch caviar with a metall spoon, only with a horn spoon, mother of pearl spoon or tortoiseshell spoon)etc., this is in my opinion just one way to make simple spoons look better or more interesting. As I do not post fotos anymore, I can only describe the "punch spoon": it is a 12 cm long, slender and much smaller spoon, with a featherlike end (looking like an arrow) and is always gilded. Sazikov 2000 IP: Logged |
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tmockait Posts: 963 |
posted 01-04-2006 05:01 PM
Thanks Sazikov. Just out of curiosity, why wouldn't one let silver touch caviar? Tom IP: Logged |
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jersey Posts: 1203 |
posted 01-04-2006 05:21 PM
Hi Tom! BTW I love the spoon. Although caviar is not my cup of tea, I can tell you that the reason for not using a silver spoon to eat it from is that the silver will give a metallic and/or sour taste to the eggs. Gold wood, horn or seashell bowl spoons is what is recommeded. Enjoy! Jersey IP: Logged |
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IJP Posts: 326 |
posted 01-04-2006 07:15 PM
It's a shame that some people feel a need to make these spoons seem "better or more interesting". I find all Russian silver to be fascinating. The forms, as mentioned, are often unique to the Western eye, and the decorative aesthetics are often dazzling. The frequent use of elsewhere too often neglected techniques of enameling, niello, and filigree, as well as the occasional use of "trompe l'oeil" effects, make the entire body of Russian silverwork a pure enjoyment to me. Why is it necessary to sugarcoat something already so sweet? ... Clearly, the motive is money. In another post (Some misinformation), I mentioned the occasional benefit to serious collectors when misinformation floats about. But the saw cuts both ways: I once took notice at online auction of a pretty pair of small cups by the Russian maker Alexander Fuld. The seller, however, cooked up a fantastic story that they were by the illegitimate son of Peter Karl Faberge. Needless to say, the items went for far above their actual value, and I didn't win them. I had kindly informed the seller before auction's close of the true attribution according to the standard reference books, and though he very graciously added my comments to the end of the item description, the name "Faberge" was all that many bidders felt they needed to read. IP: Logged |
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