SAMOVAR. Early 20th cent. The Batashovs’ Factory. Tula Nickel-plated. Ht. 40 cm. State Russian Museum

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.