A silver gilt Imperial Fruit Dish

MARKED WITH THE CYRILLIC INITIALS OF THE UNKNOWN ASSAY MASTER A.O P, MOSCOW, 1790, WITH LATER FRENCH IMPORT MARK

Details
A silver gilt Imperial Fruit Dish
marked with the Cyrillic initials of the unknown assay master A.O P, Moscow, 1790, with later French import mark
Shaped rectangular, the centre with repoussé and engraved Imperial double-headed eagle with the initial of Catherine the Great with a crown above, within engraved laurel border, the waved raised sides engraved with floral scrolls and decorative rim
11 3/8in. (29cm.) square
874 gr.
Sale room notice
The initial in the centre of the piece is that of Elizabeth Petrovna (not Catherine II) as explained in the note.

Lot Essay

With the arms of the Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, the daughter of Peter the Great who reigned from 1741-1762, this dish was assayed in the latter part of the reign of Catherine the Great. It may have been and individual order or part of a service commissioned by Elizabeth at the end of her reign, but never completed or marked, or it might be a replacement for a now lost service. Baron Foelkersam in his famous inventory of the Imperial collections in St. Petersburg details the numerous individual pieces and services still belonging to the Imperial family in 1907. He describes how Catherine the Great ordered pieces to be assayed and marked in the capital city, but he does not mention treasures that may have remained in Moscow during her reign, and which were assayed there.

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