Details
Of traditional form with raised prow and handle, the bowl repoussé with an oval reserve centring an Imperial double-headed eagle with orb and sceptre and centring St George slaying the dragon, the exterior sides chased with Cyrillic dedication 'By the Grace of God we Empress Catherine II, Autocrat of all Russia presented this kovsh to Ataman of the Volzhskii Voisko at the Winter Stanitsa, Grigorii son of Ivan Polyakov, for his true service in St Petersburg on 22 October 1763' within foliate cartouches, the front engraved with the portrait of Catherine II in profile below the Imperial crown, the shaped handle centring the cypher of Catherine II within foliate scrolls, the finial cast and chased as an Imperial double-headed eagle, marked below the handle with maker's mark and assay marks
11 in. (28 cm.) long
14.15 oz. (440 gr.)
Provenance
Anonymous sale; Christie’s, Geneva, 11 November 1975, lot 29.
Anonymous sale; Christie's, London, 1 June 2015, lot 366.
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Lot Essay

Grigorii Ivanovich Polyakov, the original recipient of this kovsh, served as an Ataman of the Volzhskii Voisko. In 1774, during Pugachev's Rebellion, he assumed command of the town of Dubovka in the Volzhskii region after Ataman Vasilii Persidskii fled. Although Polyakov welcomed Yemelyan Pugachev upon his arrival in Dubovka, Pugachev ordered his execution the following day. A comparable silver presentation kovsh presented to Vasilii Persidskii was sold at Christie's, London, 25 November 2013, lot 391.

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