Originally a drinking vessel, the kovsh was carved from wood in the shape of a goose or duck, the beak forming the handle. From the 14th century they appeared in metal and from the 16th century they were used for the traditional welcome toast.
Later, kovshi were made as presentation gifts to be given by the Tsars for many services accomplished on behalf of the crown. By the beginning of the 19th century the original inspiration had been lost from the design which, in its highly stylized form, retained the Russian historical value and became an object for silversmiths and jewellers to express traditional Russian decoration, especially in rich cloisonné enamels.
Fabergé's workshops combined this revival in Pan-Slavic design with the use of the wide variety of materials from the gold to hardstone to create some exquisite examples. The original design for the present kovsh still exists in a private collection, giving its date as 17 February 1912.