The year of the establishment of the steamship company “On the Volga”, one of the oldest in Russia, is inscribed on the central figured element of this clock’s case, framing the dial, — 1843. The company existed in Russia until 1918. It started as a cargo delivery company but eventually focused mainly on passenger transportation.
Its steamships were easily recognizable by several distinctive features, including the black hull and black smokestack contrasting with the white deck superstructures. Additionally, a gilded six-pointed star was always located on board near the paddle wheel.
All these distinctive features can also be found on the model of the steamship “Imperator” (Emperor) that crowns the clock. It accurately and in great detail reproduces one of the best-known steamships that sailed on the Volga River before 1915. The steamship glides across the surface of a “river” that is imitated using thick glass with a decorative bevel and a painted blue bottom. The rectangular black marble case serves as the base for the model. The stepped pedestal of the clock rests on eight curved metal legs, with its corners decorated with cast floral overlays. The vertical walls of the pedestal are adorned with four engraved silver plates. The front plates are engraved with images inspired by paintings, while the side plates contain texts listing boards and agencies on the left and steamship names on the right.
This steamship was originally constructed in England in 1859 and has undergone several remodels and modernizations throughout its history at a facility in Nizhny Novgorod. It was classified as one of the most common types of cargo and passenger vessels. The names of the company’s steamships typically followed a hierarchical pattern, with the highest-ranking vessels named “Tsaritsa” or “Emperor”, followed by lower-ranking ones like “Prince” or “Countess.” There were also less prestigious names, such as “Citizen” or simply “Peasant Woman, ” although there were no significant external differences between the ships.
By 1918, a total of 20 vessels operated by the company had sailed on the Volga River and its tributaries. The company soon ceased all operations.
