Turnip-shaped samovars were in vogue in the early part of the present century. The tap was generally made in branch form. The factories owned by the Batashovs were among the largest and most famous in Russia. The first of them was founded in 1840.
The samovar came into use in Russia in the mid-18th century. Early specimens often resembled vases in shape. The laws of the style dominant in decorative applied art of the period influenced their proportions, ornamentation and even certain structural details. The samovar with an egg-shaped body upheld by curved rods, the whole resting on a…
Samovars with the cylindrical body were probably the most widespread variety in the early part of the present century. They were easy to make, and their production cost was considerably lower than that of other types.
This small samovar, with its happy proportions, elegant outline, and the quiet yellow tone of the metal, is rather attractive than striking. The Vorontsovs owned two large samovar factories at Tula, one belonging to Vorontsov Brothers, and the other, to Vorontsov Heirs. The staff of the factories amounted to about three hundred workmen.
In the somewhat affected elegance of its shape and ornamental details (curved handles decorated with rams’ heads, curiously undulating figures of dolphins adorning the tap), this specimen approaches the Eclectic style in applied arts. The high technical level of workmanship places it among the more expensive productions.
This samovar is remarkable for its shape, which imitates that of a «krater», a vessel used in ancient Greece for mixing wine and water. The form of the «krater» frequently occurs in porcelain, crystal glass and hardstone vases of the period.
Samovars with the maker’s mark are much less common than those with the stamp of the factory owner.- This specimen bears the mark of the master craftsman who produced it, Rodion Kiselyov of Tula. He chose to work in a material of a high decorative quality, in copper. The shape of the samovar is rather…