Each podstakannik stands almost 110 mm tall to the top of the handle, 82.7 mm wide at the bottom rim. The artwork is a mix of Classical and Art-Nouveau styles. The centerpiece features a view of the Spasskaya Clock Tower with a little of the top of the Kremlin Wall on both sides. Of note is the "colonnade" supporting the floral ornament running around the rim. The spaces between the "columns" are an unusual and beautiful design feature which allows a see-through view of the tea in the glass. The bottom rim of one of the podstakanniki has the maker's mark in Cyrillic "

Each podstakannik stands almost 110 mm tall to the top of the handle, 82.7 mm wide at the bottom rim. The artwork is a mix of Classical and Art-Nouveau styles. The centerpiece features a view of the Spasskaya Clock Tower with a little of the top of the Kremlin Wall on both sides. Of note is the "colonnade" supporting the floral ornament running around the rim. The spaces between the "columns" are an unusual and beautiful design feature which allows a see-through view of the tea in the glass. The bottom rim of one of the podstakanniki has the maker's mark in Cyrillic "Кольчугинский з-д" ("Kolchuginskiy z-d" which means "Kolchugino Factory") and "Мельх" which stands for "Melchior", a "nickel silver" alloy traditionally used in Russia for the most expensive art castings. (It is primarily an alloy of nickel and copper, but its appearance is so convincingly silver that it is usually described by collectors as "nickel silver"). The separate stamp "2c" is a quality control stamp identifying this podstakannik as 2nd grade of quality. The other podstakannik has only the maker's mark and alloy identification stamped into the bottom rim.

Excellent condition. The patina seen in our photos adds character but can be easily removed by polishing or, better and easier yet, by the old Russian folk recipe for cleaning Melchior. All you need to do is boil some eggs and then dunk the podstakannik in that water. Please note that it only works with Melchior and does not work with silver.

It was typical Soviet practice to manufacture "themed" items of everyday use meant for specific organizations or institutions. So, you would be served tea on a train in a podstakannik with a railroad-themed centerpiece, etc. So, these Kremlin-themed podstakanniki could have been used in some ministry in Moscow or in the Kremlin itself!

Please note: If you try to come up with a replacement glass liner, it should be made of tempered glass even though we urge you not to use this to drink from! We offer this strictly as a historic artifact (and dramatic stage prop for your dining room or study). We provide no warranty of its suitability for actually drinking hot beverages like tea or coffee. All we know is that it should look great sitting on a tray next to your antique family samovar.

Enjoy!

To view many more podstakanniki, please visit the "Russian Tea Ceremony, Soviet Era" category on our website.
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