In the 16th — 17th centuries, gold and silver kovshi (traditional Russian drinking vessels) were honorary awards for military and ambassadorial service, “building a new city”, collection of duties and other state services. The awarded kovshi were carefully stored and passed on to children and grandchildren.
A silver kovsh from the collection of the Historical Museum was presented to the sexton Bogdan Silin, who for 40 years, from 1641 to 1682, was the head of the Gold and Silver Chambers of the Armory. In 1649 — 1650, Silin headed the production of gold and silver items intended for the new tsarist chambers, which were being erected at that time in the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery in Zvenigorod. These works became the basis for the award. The monastery was under the patronage of Tsar Aleksey Mikhailovich. It was considered “the sovereign’s personal pilgrimage” and subordinate to the personal office of the Tsar — the Department of Secret Affairs. In the middle of the 17th century, the monastery ensemble was rebuilt, and the tsar’s palace and chambers were erected, stone walls with towers were built around the monastery.
At the bottom of the kovsh a double-headed eagle is cut into a frame of intertwining curls — an obligatory decor element of the awarded kovshi. And along the edge there is a commemorative inscription.
Very little information has been preserved about the silversmiths who made kovshi in the 17th century. As a rule, several masters of different specialties took part in the creation process. The smith forged a smooth vessel, the painter applied a drawing to the surface and the embosser or a niello master covered the product with images and inscriptions.
Until the middle of the 17th century, kovshi were awarded ceremoniously in the tsarist chambers in the presence of the monarch. And in special cases, the tsar himself presented the award.
A silver kovsh from the collection of the Historical Museum was presented to the sexton Bogdan Silin, who for 40 years, from 1641 to 1682, was the head of the Gold and Silver Chambers of the Armory. In 1649 — 1650, Silin headed the production of gold and silver items intended for the new tsarist chambers, which were being erected at that time in the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery in Zvenigorod. These works became the basis for the award. The monastery was under the patronage of Tsar Aleksey Mikhailovich. It was considered “the sovereign’s personal pilgrimage” and subordinate to the personal office of the Tsar — the Department of Secret Affairs. In the middle of the 17th century, the monastery ensemble was rebuilt, and the tsar’s palace and chambers were erected, stone walls with towers were built around the monastery.
At the bottom of the kovsh a double-headed eagle is cut into a frame of intertwining curls — an obligatory decor element of the awarded kovshi. And along the edge there is a commemorative inscription.
Very little information has been preserved about the silversmiths who made kovshi in the 17th century. As a rule, several masters of different specialties took part in the creation process. The smith forged a smooth vessel, the painter applied a drawing to the surface and the embosser or a niello master covered the product with images and inscriptions.
Until the middle of the 17th century, kovshi were awarded ceremoniously in the tsarist chambers in the presence of the monarch. And in special cases, the tsar himself presented the award.
