Live Auction 7734Russian Art
Christie’s roundel
Lot 102

A large silver-gilt covered beaker

CYRILLIC MARK OF ALEKSANDER SOKOLOV, ST. PETERSBURG, 1873

Closed9 June 2009

Price Realised

GBP 7,500

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A large silver-gilt covered beaker
Cyrillic mark of Aleksander Sokolov, St. Petersburg, 1873
Circular, on spreading stepped base with beaded border, the tapering sides applied with cut-card architectural designs including windows, further applied with male and female busts, a harness and a group of agricultural implements, later engraved with a Russian presentation inscription, the slightly domed cover with applied dancing peasant on naturalistic mound, marked under base and on rim
12¼ in. (31.2 cm.) high
11.68 oz. (364 gr.)
The Russian inscription reads : 'To Yakov Andreevich Spyalti as a sign of memory from Count Ivan Aleksandrovich Apraksin for twenty-five years of excellent management of the estate'. The reverse engraved '1856 XXV 1881'.

Specialist note

This presentation beaker is sold with original letter from Count Ivan Aleksandrovich Apraksin, dated St. Petersburg, June 10, 1881.

[Johann] Jacob Spalti (born in 1830 in Netstal, Switzerland, where he died in 1895) was the son of an impecunious monger, apprenticed to a steward whose daughter he married in 1856. In the same year he emigrated to Russia and started his career as estate manager of Count Apraksin's estates in the region of Voronezh-Tambov, located approximately 480 km South-East of Moscow. He was very successful in running the business and the Count's estate became one of the best managed in Russia. In 1887 he returned to his native country.