RUSSIE

Important SAMOVAR and its silver tray 84 zolotniks (875 thousandths), provided with its chimney, with edges contourned and side handles foliated, of baluster form, the body with engraved decoration of the armorial bearings of the Brevern family of Lagardie, trimmings out of mother-of-pearl. Very good condition. Saint Petersburg, 1854. Goldsmith : Alexandre KORDES. Weight : 7391,0 g. H. 72 cm (total) H. 45 cm (without the chimney) L. 39 cm (tray). Provenance : - Count Alexander Ivanovich Brevern de Lagardie (Estonia, 1814 - 1890). - Youssoupoff family, circa 1940, according to family tradition. - French private collection. History: Count Alexander Ivanovich von Brevern (1814 - 1890), was a member of the State Council of Imperial Russia, adjutant - general and general of cavalry, from the nobility of the Estland province (Estonia). On December 6, 1851 he was appointed commander of the cavalry guard regiment of His Majesty Nicholas I. In March 1852 he was promoted to the rank of major general and in June he accompanied the sovereign to Potsdam. By the highest decree of December 11, 1852, at the request of the Estonian nobleman, the Swedish count Karl Magnus de Lagardie, his uncle, transmitted to his nephew the permission to take the name, title and coat of arms of the Counts of Lagardie (due to the suppression of the male line), and to be named hereditarily "Count of Brevern de Lagardie". It is most likely to honor this decision of the Tsar that Alexander Brevern de Lagardie ordered this impressive silver samovar and, perhaps, a whole service, engraved with his new arms. Literature: The family coat of arms is represented in Carl Arvid von Klingspor's "Collection of Coats of Arms of the Baltic States", 1882, p.16. Expert : Maxime CHARRON