In the 16th — 17th centuries, the utensils in the Stroganovs’ upper rooms included not only silver and wooden dishes made by Russian craftsmen, but also various items manufactured in Western Europe, such as German silver cups and Dutch silverware.
Of particular interest is the koliva tankard — a valuable liturgical vessel of cylindrical shape, which was intended for memorial services. It was used to serve koliva — a dish based on whole wheat with honey, sugar, and sometimes dried fruits. Wheat kernels symbolized the future Resurrection, while sugar and honey represented the bliss of the future life.
The tall and smooth vessel is made of silver, has a cast C-shaped handle, and a hinged lid. At the bottom, the tankard’s body ends with a slightly flaring, smooth base.
The surface of the smooth lid is engraved with a Renaissance pattern of a spiraling stem with small branches. There is a drop-shaped thickening where the shoots spring from the stem. The white smooth pattern stands out on the gilded background, which is decorated with dense carved shading.
In the upper part of the tankard, on the surface of the cylindrical body, there is also a decorative pattern.
The peculiarities of style and technique indicate that the tankard was manufactured by a German craftsman, possibly from Nuremberg, in the 16th century (before 1586). The bottom of the tankard bears the stamp of an unknown German craftsman in a figured shield.
The tankard belonged to
the famous Russian merchant and industrialist Nikita Grigoryevich Stroganov and
was his contribution to the family church — the Solvychegodsk Annunciation
Cathedral. This is indicated by the inscription in the lower part of the
vessel, which was added by a Russian silversmith. It informs that on September
15, 1586, this tankard was donated by Nikita Stroganov in memory of his parents,
“Donated on the eve of the memorial services”. The inscription also indicates the
exact weight of the tankard, “The weight of the tankard is sixty-six zolotniks
[approximately 280 grams] of silver”. Moreover, at the bottom of the vessel,
there is an engraved monogram with the initials of Nikita Grigoryevich
Stroganov, “NI”. There is also a scratched inscription, “XXI OT”.
