A rare silver-gilt and niello imperial presentation kovsh, Moscow, 1801

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Lot Closed

June 9, 05:18 PM GMT

Estimate

20,000 - 30,000 GBP

Lot Details

Description

An Important Swiss Collection (lots 65, 73-96, 171-172, 195-199, 231-234, 253)

A rare silver-gilt and niello imperial presentation kovsh, Moscow, 1801

Of traditional form, the prow with the letter A, the sides engraved with Russian inscription within laurel nielloed borders reserves, the shaped handle nielloed with a portrait of Tsarevich Alexander on chevron ground, the finial cast and chased as an imperial double-headed eagle, struck underneath and under handle, 84 standard, in a brown-red leather fitted case

height 13.8cm, 5 3/8 in., length 26.5cm, 10 3/8 in.

Presented by Emperor Alexander I to Major General Zakhar Evstratov, Ataman of the Zimovaya stanitsa of the Don Cossacks

The sides of the present kovsh are engraved 'We are presenting this kovsh to the ataman of the Zimovaya stanitsa of the Don Cossacks, our Major General Zakhar Evstratov, son of the Sich cossack Zaev / For long-term and loyal service to us and the fatherland as a mark of our goodwill, Moscow, Year 1801, May / By the grace of God, we Alexander the First, Emperor and Autocrat of all the Russias'