A Russian parcel-gilt Imperial Presentation silver kovsh, Moscow, 18th century

of typical form, the basin with the Imperial Eagle repoussé and chased, the parcel-gilt exterior engraved with a presentation inscription in Cyrillic, (translated into modern Russian: Старшину Ишимовой станицы атамана Петра Степановича Еркашева за его верную службу 1740 года 5 января Божей милостью Мы Анна Императрица и Самодержица всероссийская [To the headman of the Ishimova stanitsa, Ataman Pyotr Stepanovich Erkashev, for his faithful service on January 5, 1740, by the grace of God, Anna Empress and Autocrat of All Russia], the handle with cast portrait bust of Catherine the Great and later inscription dated 1871, the rim surmounted by an Imperial Eagle, apparently unmarked

length 23 cm; 9 in.