AUCTION HOUSE HIGHLIGHTS
SILVER
David Elstob of Elstob & Elstob on some of the splendid silverware that has gone under the hammer at the Ripon-based auctioneers
A RUSSIAN SILVER AND ENAMEL KOVSH, EARLY 1900S. SOLD FOR £5,000.
“A kovsh is a traditional Russian drinking-vessel-cum-ladle. Originally kovshs were used to serve mead but by the 17th century they had become primarily ornamental items rather than practical ones. This particular piece bears a Moscow ‘second Kokoshnik’ mark, which means it was made sometime between 1908 and 1926. The unusual looped handle and organic design reflect the Art Nouveau style of the time. The enamel was in very good condition – enamel is easy to damage but difficult to repair – which is one of the reasons it did so well at auction.”
98 | AUTUMN 2021 | Dales Life
