Object Description
A twin-handled English silver plated samovar
English, Late 19th Century
Height 43cm, width 33cm, depth 33cm
This magnificent piece is a large silver plated and bone handled samovar, a large vessel used in the preparation of tea, and was made in England in late Victorian London. A type of preparatory drinking vessel popular in Russia, so widely used that it constitutes an important piece of Russian material culture, the samovar was also popular in Iran, Turkey, and Kashmir, and were produced across continental Europe and also in nineteenth century England.
Used at all levels of society, samovars could also be exquisitely ornate and decorative works at the highest end, as exemplified by fine pieces such as this. This particular item, engraved ‘Best London Manufac.’ is wrought from silver-plate and mounted with bone handles.