An Important Russian Silver Samovar and Tray, Orest Kurlyukov, Moscow, circa 1900

the monumental samovar and tray in the Art Nouveau taste, the body elaborately chased and repoussé with flowers and vegetation centering on the floriated Cyrillic monogram SA, the valve formed as maiden wearing a kokoshnik and the tap as a dolphin's head, the handles and burner stand with conforming decoration, the upper portion of the lid elaborately chased and repoussé as a crown with openwork floral ornament, with openwork flame finial; the tray with conforming decoration including an applied, raised platform for the samovar and a border band of shells centered on a mask

Some surface scratches consistent with age and use; otherwise in overall good condition
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The Cyrillic monogram SA below the crown-shaped surmount of this monumental samovar strongly indicates that it was made for Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich, uncle of Emperor Nicholas II and Governor-General of Moscow from 1891 to 1904. The firm of silversmith Orest Kurlyukov made several such large and important silver samovars and teasets that were given to members of the Imperial family by the Moscow Merchants Society. A very similar teaset made by Kurlyukov was given to Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna and Prince Wilhelm of Sweden as a wedding gift from the Moscow Merchant and Stock Exchange Associations in 1909 (see Parke-Bernet Galleries, New York, May 1, 1965, lot 271). Kurlyukov himself was an important member of several Moscow business associations and would have occasionally worked closely with Grand Duke Sergei. Although primarily remembered as a rigid conservative whose poor choices had led to the disaster on Khodynka Field during the festivities for the coronation of Nicholas II and Alexandra Feodorovna, Grand Duke Sergei was a conscientious Governor-General who introduced numerous improvements to city services. The fight against commercial fraud was of particular interest to the Grand Duke; the fact that Orest Kurlyukov served as a City Deputy overseeing gold and silver production and as a member of the Moscow Commercial Court suggests that the Grand Duke and the silversmith had many of the same interests. The unusually fine quality and the up-to-date Art Nouveau details of the samovar and tray certainly attest to the esteem in which the recipient was held. Sergei Alexandrovich was a devout Orthodox Christian and while on a trip to Jerusalem founded a society dedicated to the upkeep of Orthodox shrines in the Holy Land and for the care of Russian pilgrims. He considered this work the only part of his official duties that he truly enjoyed. After his assassination in February 1905 by a member of the Socialist Revolutionary Party, his wife (and sister of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna), Grand Duchess Elizaveta Feodorovna, retired from public life. In 1909, she established the convent of Sts. Mary and Martha and sold her collection of jewels and other luxurious possessions to fund the convent's work of caring for the poor and the sick. It is possible that this lavish samovar and tray were among the goods she sold to raise funds for her charitable works.