Object Description
This matching pair of early 20th Century Russian drinking cups (or vodka cups, also known as beakers) are made of solid silver. Cylindrical in form, the cups narrow slightly from the rim to the base. The cloisonné enamelwork of each cup is extensive and impressive: over a black-grey ground is overlaid scrolling foliate and geometrical motifs in cloisonné enamel, bounded by cloisonné ropework styled wire. The colour palette of the cups is vibrant: shades of blue abound, balanced by instances of red and green. The lip of each cup is rimmed with applied twisted silver ropework.
The cups are stamped on the base with ‘84’, which signifies 875 grade silver, as well as the maker’s mark, ‘CMW’.