RUSSIAN ENAMELLED COPPER CUP

RUSSIAN ENAMELLED COPPER CUP, late 19th or early 20th century, of square section and tapered form, with indented corner angles, each side with a raised champleve enamel floral sprig to each side, the underside with Cyrillic script for the 'Ovchinnikov workshop' within the circular foot rim, 3.5cm high, 5.5cm wide; with a leather covered case with fitted and velvet lined interior, the case 6.5cm high, 8cm wide Note: Born in 1830, Pavel Ovchinnikov became one of the most famous Russian silversmiths of his time. From a family of modest origins -his father was a serf, Pavel gained the favour of Prince Dimitri Volkonski, and was sent to Moscow where he was apprenticed in a jewellery shop In 1850 he gained his freedom and three years later he founded his own workshop. His business thrived, so that by 1865 he was appointed Court supplier to the future Tzar Alexander III. His works were exhibited at the Pan-Russian manufacturing exhibition where he won the gold medal, and at the 1867 Exposition Universelle in Paris. Ovchinnikov was also court supplier to King Vittorio Emanuele II of Italy and to King Christian IX of Denmark