ANTIQUE 19thC RUSSIAN SOLID SILVER DRAGON SHAPE TEA GLASS HOLDER, MOSCOW c.1880

Antique 19th Century Russian Imperial solid silver tea glass holder, boldly modelled in the form of a mythical winged dragon. The sculptural piece is beautifully fashioned as a sinuous dragon, its elongated, serpentine body entwined around the faceted clear glass tumbler. The creature's powerful head projects dramatically from the base, with an open mouth, pronounced snout, finely modelled eyes and elaborate swept back ears, giving the piece a wonderfully expressive and lifelike appearance.

The dragon's body is intricately worked with individually defined overlapping scales, while its magnificent outstretched wings display finely chased ribbing and feather like detailing. Its long, coiling tail sweeps upwards to form an elegant scrolling handle, terminating in a delicately modelled fin, with the remaining coils and claw like appendages providing a cleverly integrated support for the glass.

The dragon reflects the fascination with mythology, folklore and fantastical creatures that influenced decorative arts during the late 19th century. Both a functional tea glass holder and a highly decorative sculptural object, this distinctive piece would make a wonderful addition to a collection of Russian silver, unusual drinking vessels or 19th-century objets d'art.

Hallmarked Russian Silver 84 (875 Standard), Moscow, year 1856-1897, Maker's Mark in Cyrillic AK (Antip Kuzmichev).

Reference Number: P12674