Bratina & Charka
Bratina
The bratina
(from brat, brother) has traditionally been employed as a toasting cup. Like kovshi, the bratina
was conceived in wood and later transformed into a highly crafted silver or
gold cup. When used in drinking festivities, the toasting party was obliged to
fill the cup to the rim and empty it upon his head before actually saying the
toast, guaranteeing an empty cup before the toast. The bratina
also served as a symbolic farewell gesture; either placed in a church to be
consecrated as an incense burner or filled with dissolved honey (syta) before being placed upon a tomb during funeral
rites. As a highly valued gift, wealthy
Russians often possessed a family bratina that
had been passed down through several generations.
In the 16th and 17th
centuries, bratiny began being engraved in niello with sentimental mottos (such as “Drink to our
health”). Occasionally, a bratina has
the presentation event or owner’s name inscribed instead. Though hard to read,
these ornate inscriptions are writ large in interlaced Slavonic lettering.
By the late 19th century, Russian historicism had made the bratina a popular item once again. Russian enameling
firms, inspired to reassert their national identity, created bratiny with colorful enamel decorations
using motifs and techniques found from 17th century bratina.
Duck
Saltcellars
As an essential element for extending
hospitality, salt containers were exceedingly well made and prominently placed
in the center of the peasant table. As
pagan harvest tribute to the Sun-God (noted earlier), peasants north of the
Similar to a skobkar,
the duck-shaped saltcellar reveals a sliding lid on top and feathers (or water
reeds) painted on the sides. Several different varieties exist: with a duckling
on the back, as a horse or ram, or simply as another waterfowl species (such as
a swan).
As a water symbol, the swimming duck
originates from Greco-Scythian motifs popular during the 8th to 10th centuries.
Incidentally, the duck- shaped saltcellar was so beloved by American
silversmiths that they copied the form in the 18th century.
Charka
(1730-1800, 1900-1910?)
In the early 18th century,
the charka (or ‘vodka cup”), a semi-spherical cup edged with an
octagonal rim, became a popular drinking vessel. As the century progressed, a quatrefoil charka
became progressively more prevalent. Much like the bratina,
charki contain Slavonic inscriptions engraved
beneath the rim. Similarly, the vessel’s
base rests upon small animal feet as well.
Throughout the 18th
century, charki were produced with
silver or gold inlaid coins (even foreign coins occasionally). Late-century charka
came to display sea creature motifs such as mermaids and sea horses, several
which were ornately decorated with semiprecious stones.
Marks
The Russian silver standard employs the numbers 84, 88, and 91 to measure the zolotniks per pound of pure silver (pure silver
equals 96 zolotniks; gold is similarly
represented by 56, 72, and 96). Russian silver generally has 4 marks: the
maker's initials or name, the silver-testing city's coat-of-arms, the assayer's
initials, and the pure silver proportion numbers stated above.
In the 20th century, the kokoshnik head-dress remains the Russian mark for
both gold and silver objects. Previously, Moscow-made objects had St.George and the Dragon as a mark. Likewise, St.
Petersburg-made objects employed a double-headed eagle until 1742 when it was
replaced by the
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the Russian style for export." Magazine Antiques. Mar.2003
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Enamels: From Kievan Rus to
Faberge. Philip Wilson Publishers. 2003
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