Russian Works of Art, Fabergé and Icons
Russian Works of Art, Fabergé and Icons
Property from a Private German Collection
An imperial presentation shashka, Period Nicholas II (1896-1917)
This lot has been withdrawn
Lot Details
Description
Property from a Private German Collection
An imperial presentation shashka, Period Nicholas II (1896-1917)
with curved fullered blade etched with foliage and the brief inscription 'Imperial prize' and Nicholas II monogram, silver-gilt hilt of characteristic form chased with scrolling patterns of foliage and Nicholas II monogram on a recessed ground enriched with niello and set within a scrolling frame, in its leather covered wooden scabbard with silver mounts including two suspension bands and one ring and the inner face decorated with sprays of niello foliage, the upper mount chased and engraved with the inscription 'for the excellent mastery of steel weapons' and the reverse engraved twice with dedication 'for the excellent mastery of steel weapons, His Majesty's Own Cossack Escort, given to M. Rogozhin' in Cyrillic, inscribed in Cyrillic on the blade with maker's name 'Zlatoust' weaponry factory' and on the hilt, struck to the mounts of the scabbard and the blade with maker's mark in Cyrillic
length 92cm; 36¼in.
The Imperial shashka bears an inscription ‘Imperial Prize’ and the monogram of Nicholas II executed in silver, indicative of an award for second place. The handle bears a personal dedication to M. Rogozhin.
Mikhail Fedorovich Rogozhin was a Terek Cossack born in 1892 in Station Chervlenaya (nowadays part of Chechnya). He was called to serve in His Majesty’s Own Cossack Escort where competitions in the mastery of steel weapons were often held. He later served in the army during World War I. Later, he joined the White Army and was part of the Terek rebellion which was one of the largest and longest revolts against the Bolsheviks. After the defeat of the White Army he lived in immigration in Germany until his death in 1949.
The shashka was made by the Zlatoust Weapons Factory which was the first factory of steel weapons in Russia founded in 1815 and situated in the eponymous city in Chelyabinsk. The factory was the main producer of weapons in Imperial Russia and especially during World War I. It was well known across Russia for its unique chasing and engraving techniques pioneered by local work masters. The factory remains an important producer of weapons to this day.