Samovars, which have seen a few: The largest, the oldest, "Goblin" and others

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Interestingly, the two main Russian souvenirs, the samovar and the matryoshka, are not from Russia at all. The history of the samovar goes back more than one thousand years. Before the era of electricity, these convenient devices for heating water existed in many forms, in different countries and eras. Displaced by modern household appliances, they have almost disappeared from everyday life, so it is worth remembering what they were. In our review, the most unusual and famous, the most expensive and beautiful samovars.

The most ancient

A device for heating water, very similar in design to a modern samovar, existed in ancient Rome. Surprisingly, the name of the device in literal translation also practically coincides with Russian. Probably, the meaning here really "lies on the surface." Such heated vessels were called - or.

The most transparent

There is a widespread, albeit historically unconfirmed legend that the samovar in Russia appeared thanks to Peter I. However, one interesting specimen of the samovar, stored in the Armory, is really associated with the name of the reformer tsar. It is made of rock crystal and has never been used for its intended purpose.

The most mobile

In the 18th-19th centuries, several interesting and unusual samovar models were created that met the needs of their time. So, for example, a special travel samovar, a kerosene version of the popular device and a samovar of the Parichko system were designed - a safer one, with a removable jug.

The most fabulous

This unique samovar "Rooster" was made according to the sketches of the great Russian artist V. M. Vasnetsov for the World Industrial Exhibition in Vienna in 1873 and earned the highest award there. Now it is kept in the funds of the Russian Museum.

Personal samovar

One of the main attractive features of a samovar is its unifying power. This center of the family table usually gathered a large company around it. Therefore, in Russia, the attitude towards samovars has always been the most respectful. However, there were also models for individual farmers. At the beginning of the 20th century, small samovars with a volume of 2 and one cups came into fashion. They were called, respectively, "Tete-a-tete" and "Egoist". In 1909, Tula craftsmen made such small individual samovars as a gift for the children of Emperor Nicholas II, each of which was unique.

Dearest

To date, the most expensive are samovars made at the beginning of the 20th century in the Faberge workshop. One of the most famous is "Leshy", made of silver with gold plating. In 1917, this masterpiece was taken out of Russia and exhibited in London several times. In 2004, a Russian collector bought it at Sotheby's for a record £ 274,400. Now the rarity, apparently, has returned to Russia.

The biggest

This record was not officially recorded, but, most likely, until recently, the samovar made in Ukraine for the buffet of the Kharkov railway station was the largest in the world. With a height of 1.8 m, it has a volume of 360 liters, and this miracle of technology weighs more than 300 kg. On a day this "Samovar Samovarych" can give tea to 10 thousand people! On holidays, they take him out into the street and arrange a large folk tea party.

The recognized samovar-record holder was made of stainless steel in 2014 in Perm and noted in the “Russian Book of Records”. Its height with a pipe is 2, 5 m, and with a volume of 555 liters of water, it can "water" 2220 people at once.

The smallest

Today micro- and even nano-miniatures will surprise no one. Scientists create copies of various objects and works of art, which can only be seen through a microscope. But this model of a samovar is interesting in that it is effective at its small size! The tiny model holds exactly one drop of water. This miniature miracle was created by Vasily Vasyurenko, a locksmith of the Institute of Radio Engineering and Electronics of the USSR Academy of Sciences.

Precious crumb

Another unusual samovar was made of gold by the famous master of microminiatures Nikolai Aldunin. Despite the size of only 1.2 mm, the microcopy consists of 12 elements. True, it will not work to boil water in it. This model is just an unusual toy.

Unfortunately, drinking tea from a samovar melted by pine cones today is already very difficult. Electrical technology is driving some household items out of our homes. Probably very soon real samovars will become the property of museums and antique collections. However, time is merciless not only to objects. Read on: The Kick-Off Game: Disappeared Occupations of the 20th Century, the List of which Still Replenishes