This Kovsch (also known as a ‘Kovsh’, an ornamental ladle or drinking vessel) was produced c. 1910 during the late Russian Imperial period. Made of solid 875 grade silver, the Kovsch is of traditional oval form, featuring a markedly peaked prow and a mounted handle, the foliate profile of which imitates the leaf motifs within the arabesques that pattern the body of the Kovsch.
The body of the Kovsch is beautifully decorated with cloisonné enamel. Scrolling arabesques and flowers in petal, contained within rope twist cloison wire, are set onto a variety of differently coloured geometrically shaped enamel grounds. The colours of the grounds range from rich purple, to green, cream, and sky blue. The arabesques and floral motifs are wrought in shades of blue, red, and green enamel, all set to complement the coloured enamel ground beneath. The rim of the Kovsch is bounded with rope twist ornamentation in silver.
The Kovsch is marked underside with ‘84’, which signifies 875 grade silver, and ‘26A’ for the 26th Artel. The interior of the Kovsch is inscribed with Russian text.