An Alexander II Russian 84 Zolotnik vodka beaker (stopka), Moscow 1873 by Ivan Petrovich Khlebnikov and Sons

Of cylindrical form, raised on three ball feet, with engine turned decoration and a vacant floral cartouche to front. Fully marked underneath assayer mark obscured. Together with a small circular tray, with engraved decoration of strap work reserved with stylised leaves and lattice work, Moscow 1872 by Fedor Ivanov (active 1843-1882), fully marked underneath with assayer’s mark of Victor or Veniamin Savinsky (1859-94 and 1862-75). (2)

Beaker Height – 5 cm / 2 inches

Tray Diameter – 10 cm / 3.9 inches

Weight – 84 grams / 2.7 ozt

Ivan Petrovich Khlebnikov worked in St Petersburg until 1867, founding a jewellery firm in Moscow in 1869/7. Supplier of the Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaievich from 1872, and Vladirmir Alexandrovich from 1877 and the imperial court from 1881. After Ivan’s death the business was taken over by his son’s Mikhail, Alexei, Nickolai and Vladimir. In 1882 they had 200 workers with an annual turnover of 300,000 roubles, located at Shvivaya Gorka, Moscow. Retailing from Kuznetsky Most and Ilyinka, Novgorodskoye. In 1918 the firm ceased trading and was nationalised.