{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O94664"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O94664/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O94664","accessionNumber":"979-1869","objectType":"Ladle","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"The <i>kovsch</i> is a boat-shaped vessel specific to Russia, which has a single handle and is used for ladling out drinks. By the 19th century most examples took the traditional shape shown here, usually being made of silver but sometimes of hardwood. \r\n\r\nThis <i>kovsch</i> is decorated using a technique known as niello, which dates from the medieval period. A mixture of silver, lead, copper and sulphur, which has a low melting point, is used to infill incised decorations on silver, the black compound creating a dramatic contrast with the silver. In the 19th century Russian silversmiths were the acknowledged masters of this technique. \r\n\r\nThis <i>kovsch</i> was bought from the Moscow-based firm of Sazikov at the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1867.","physicalDescription":"Ladle or Kovsh.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Sazikov","id":"A3526"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"x40240"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silver","id":"AAT11029"},{"text":"gold","id":"AAT11021"}],"techniques":[{"text":"niello","id":"AAT54022"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Silver, parcel gilt with niello inlay","categories":[{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Drinking","id":"THES48965"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":[],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"67 (VA)","id":"THES49731"},"free":"","case":"1","shelf":"2","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"kovsh","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Russia","id":"x29110"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1865","earliest":"1865-01-01","latest":"1865-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"14.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"maximum","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"4.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"maximum","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Assay master's mark: cyrillic BC, for Viktor Savinkov (used 1855-1888). Standard mark for 875 ( standard silver ).","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":"A8728"},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"Bought from the Russian firm of Sazikov at the Paris Exhibition of 1867.","historicalContext":"Niello is a mixture of silver, lead, copper and sulphur, which has a low melting point. It has been used since the medieval period to fill designs incised into metal. In the 19th century, the acknowledged masters of this technique were Russian silversmiths.","briefDescription":"Silver, parcel-gilt with niello inlay, Moscow, 1865 made by Sazikov","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["979-1869"],"accessionNumberNum":"979","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1869,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-30","recordCreationDate":"2004-03-03","availableToBook":false}}