Description
A boat-shaped vessel used for ladling the "kwass" (strong beer) out of big bowls. In the center of the interior is an engraved double-headed eagle. Similar eagles are depicted in relief on the handle and on the finial. The kovsh was given toward the end of the 17th century to a bailiff of Orel by Peter the Great.
Provenance
Alexandre Polovtsoff (Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Polovtsov), Paris, by purchase; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1930, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Inscriptions
[Transcription] In the cartouches: Б(о)жиею м(и)л(о)стию велики г(осу)д(а)р(ь) ц(а)рь и велики кн(я)зь / Петръ Алеξееввичъ (sic) / всеiа великiiа и малыia и бѣлыia / Росiи самодръжецъ / [along the edge] пожалова(л) с(и)мъ ковъшемъ города Орла та/моженного и кабацкого збору бурмистра Гараема Θедорова сына / Круткова, что он будучи в сим АΨΙ году в товарыщах з бурмистром сь Iваномъ Ѡщепковымъ прибрал ҂Д умг рублеи и ... ден(ег)ъ; [Translation] Peter Alexeevich, by the grace of God great sovereign Czar and Grand Prince of all Great, Little and White Russia, awarded with this kovsh Thedore Krutkov’s son Garaem, bailiff for the customs and tavern duties in the town of Orel, for having collected during the present year 1710 in partnership with the bailiff Ivan Oshchepkov 400 (?) roubles…; [Transcription] On the back of the handle: весу 90. зо(лотников); [Translation] 90 zolotniks of weight [1 zolotnik = 4.265 gramms]
Credit
Acquired by Henry Walters, 1930
