The choice of shapes and sizes was determined not only by aesthetic ideas but also by considerations of convenience. Samovars intended for use on a journey were of medium size, and had the form of a cube or of an octagonal prism. The curved legs were removable. They could be easily and securely fitted into…
DetailsThe samovar cooker shaped as a cauldron was invented at some earlier date. Several specimens have survived from the mid-18th century. In the 19th century samovar cookers were also produced at samovar factories. This type of cooker was a great convenience. It had three compartments and could be used to prepare three dishes at a…
DetailsThe cube-shaped variety of samovars, well suited for transportation purposes, proved long-lived. Travelling samovars of this type continued to be made throughout the whole of the 19th century. However, the specimens produced in the second half of the century, as compared with earlier types, are distinguished by somewhat heavier proportions, a different treatment of details,…
DetailsAlongside with big factories, there existed, In Tula and other Russian towns, numerous artisans’ shops which also produced samovars. This craftsman followed the pattern of the convenient 18th century kettle-shaped type.
The reputation of the town and government of Tula as the leading centre of samovar production was firmly established in the second half of the 18th century. At first dozens, and later hundreds of factories and shops, both large and small, worked in this area, vying with each other in the technical and artistic perfection…
DetailsThe “sbitennik”, shaped somewhat like a kettle but provided with an internal heat-pipe, was an early form of “self-boiler”, which preceded the samovar. It was used for making and keeping hot the “sbiten”, a most popular Russian drink of mead boiled with sage, St. John’s-wort and spices. This drink was sold by sbiten-vendors right in…
DetailsThe samovar shaped as the figure of a cock, with decoration imitating ornamental motives carved in wood, illustrates the prevailing pseudo-Russian taste of the period. The execution is remarkable for painstaking accuracy and a loving attention to detail.
The generalized contour, the pleasant flowing lines, and the contrasting combination of black plastic handles with the nickel-plated surface, give a modern look to this specimen which retains, in its form, every essential feature of a samovar.
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…
DetailsSamovars 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…
DetailsWooden houses for employees coming to the city. Often with a shared kitchen. Homes are designed for multiple families. Construction time of 30-40 years.