An Imperial Presentation silver-gilt kovsh, Moscow, 1783

the base of the bowl repoussé with the Imperial eagle, the handle modelled with an Imperial crown and engraved with the cypher of Empress Catherine II, the prow engraved with a portrait bust of the Empress below an Imperial eagle finial, the sides with scroll reserves inscribed in Russian 'By the grace of God We, Catherine the Great, Empress and Autocrat of All the Russias, Etc. Etc. Etc., This kovsh was presented to Esaul Dedorub Darin of the Ural Battalion under the command of Anton Tolikov for his faithful service while in Saint Petersburg for the Lyogkiy Stanets in December 1783', the underside of the handle numbered 627, otherwise apparently unmarked

From the beginning of the 18th century the Tsar's Yaitsky, or Ural, troops were involved in the three hundred year old custom of the Lyogkiy Stanets. As a sign of loyalty, fish and caviar caught on the first day of winter from the Ural River were delivered to the Imperial Court, accompanied by a Cossack officer. This ancient custom was originally known as 'The Tsar's Bite', with the fishermen describing the event as 'going for an Imperial catch'. The quantity and type of gifts presented to the Court varied depending on the circumstances, often including 'winter storeroom gifts' such as the wild boar and other meats brought during the reign of Empress Elisabeth Petrovna.