Cylindrical, the stepped domed lid cast with oak leaf and foliated strapwork borders and inset with a silver 1 rouble coin of Peter the Great dated 1725, the scroll handle with ball thumbpiece surmounted with the Imperial double-headed eagle, on three ball feet below escutcheons, interior gilt, marked under base and on cover with 'K. Fabergé' in Cyrillic beneath the Imperial warrant, and workmaster's initials, also with French import marks
10⁵⁄₈ in. (27 cm.) high, including handle
57.4 oz. (1,787 kg.)

Presented by Emperor Nicholas lI to Maurice Depret (1863-1933), Second Secretary of the French Embassy in St Petersburg, during President Émile Loubet's state visit to Russia in 1902.
Thence by descent.
Anonymous sale; Sotheby's, London, 30 May 2012, lot 393.
Acquired at the above sale by the present owner.

U. Tillander-Godenhielm, The Russian Imperial Award System, 1894-1917, Helsinki, 2005, p. 469 (listed).

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Lot Essay

This large and impressive tankard was among a group of well-documented gifts presented to President Émile Loubet and his suite during the French State Visit to Russia in 1902. It was given to Maurice Depret (1863-1933), Second Secretary of the French Embassy in St Petersburg, and is recorded on a Fabergé invoice among items supplied to the Imperial Cabinet, with a listed cost of 385 roubles.

An extensive register of gifts presented to President Loubet and his suite survives in the state archives, where the present tankard appears as that given to Depret at the same recorded value.

Throughout the reign of Emperor Nicholas II, state visits by French officials carried particular diplomatic significance, reflecting the importance of the Franco-Russian alliance. President Loubet’s visit, which took place from 14 to 27 May 1902, was marked by the presentation of numerous traditional gifts, including kovshes, bratinas and tankards such as this example.

For more information, see U. Tillander-Godenhielm, The Russian Imperial Award System, 1894-1917, Helsinki, 2005, pp. 468-470.

We are grateful to Dmitry Krivoshey for his assistance with the research of the present lot.