Tea And Coffee Set By P. Ovchinnikov, Moscow, Late 19th Century

A superb gold-plated silver tea and coffee set, crafted by the renowned Moscow-based workshop of Pavel Ovchinnikov in the late 19th century. This refined set, consisting of a coffee pot, a teapot, a sugar bowl, a milk jug, and six spoons, is a masterpiece of Russian silverwork, combining national motifs, rich decoration, and technical virtuosity.

Each piece is adorned with medallions depicting views of the Moscow Kremlin, executed in niello, one of the most delicate techniques in Russian silverwork. The chiseled ornaments and gilded surfaces combine to create a harmonious interplay of contrasts and depth.

The spoons are decorated on the reverse with miniature scenes of Moscow’s architecture: St. Basil’s Cathedral, the Kremlin, the Ivan the Great Bell Tower, Christ the Savior Cathedral, the towers of Kitay-Gorod, and panoramic views of Red Square. The set is preserved in its original case, adorned with a gold-plated inscription reading “FROM THE STORE OF THE MANUFACTURER P.A. OVCHINNIKOV” beneath the Russian imperial coat of arms, attesting to its sale by the house of the Imperial Court Purveyor.

Hallmarks: Full hallmark and small hallmark of the house of P. Ovchinnikov under a double-headed eagle, “PO” hallmark, mark of the Moscow Assay Office with Master Assayer Viktor Savinkov (active 1855–1888), dated 1872, state hallmark depicting Saint George slaying the dragon, Russian mark for 84 zolotniks, Latvian hallmark 875 with a young girl’s head turned to the left (1922–1939), the letter “A,” and the master’s mark “VS” for Vasily Semionov.

Dimensions: Coffee pot 24.5 × 12.6 × 24.0 cm, Sugar bowl 17.5 × 18.0 × 12.2 cm, Milk jug 11.8 × 8.2 × 9.6 cm, spoons 10.5 × 2 cm.

Weight: 1,288 g

Materials: 84 zolotniks of silver, gilding, niello, chasing, cast metal, bone.

Condition: Good collector’s condition. Slight signs of wear on the gilding and niello, consistent with its age. The decorative elements remain clear and precise. Original case with gold markings and preserved velvet interior.

Provenance: European private collection.
ID-ANTQ-12242