Tea glass holder set "St. George the Victorious" antique patinated 925 silver in a case — 3-piece

Saint George is the dragon slayer—the saint on horseback, spear in hand, evil beneath his hooves. No other Christian image is so universally understood: born in Egypt, became a soldier in Cappadocia, executed for his faith in 303 under Diocletian—and since then revered in both Orthodox and Western tradition as the patron saint of warriors, shepherds, and horsemen. Russia, Georgia, Moscow, England, Catalonia, Aragon, Genoa: all bear him on their coats of arms.

Our tea glass holder set "St. George the Victorious antique patinated" features this saint sculpturally in the central heraldic medallion: Saint George on horseback, lance in hand, the dragon beneath his hooves, framed by a laurel wreath and bow. The ArgentA-typical blackening in the recesses makes the equestrian scene stand out sculpturally. Also included are a classic "Imperator" teaspoon, a checkered crystal glass, and the velvet-lined premium case in navy blue.

St. George the Victorious — a very Russian and very European story

The legend itself is oriental-medieval: a Roman soldier named Georgios, martyred in Lydda (modern-day Israel), becomes a symbol of the victory of faith over paganism. The dragon-slaying scene is a later iconographic invention of the High Middle Ages—the dragon as a symbol of paganism, the maiden as the rescued church, the rider as Christ's hero.

For Russia, Saint George has a special meaning: since the 14th century, he has been the patron saint of Moscow and thus part of the city's coat of arms—the rider with the dragon, which the Russian double-headed eagle also bears on its breastplate. In the Russian Empire, the "Order of St. George" was founded in 1769—to this day, Russia's highest military award. For the sleeves and chests of Russian soldiers and veterans, the black and orange "St. George ribbon" is the highest badge of honor.

The same applies to Western Europe: St. George is the patron saint of England (since 1284), and his red cross-on-white flag is the English national flag. Genoa, Aragon, Catalonia, Portugal, Ethiopia, and Beirut also feature him. The dual patronage of East and West makes the motif culturally adaptable—regardless of one's religious or national tradition.

The holder — same design as our other heraldic sets

Anyone familiar with our ArgentA tea line will immediately recognize the holder: the same classical column structure as the Double-Headed Eagle Set and the Master Set, the same stirrup handle with a pearl rim, the same acanthus volutes, the same laurel wreath in the medallion. Only the central emblem is different: Saint George on horseback instead of a double-headed eagle or an empty engraving field.

This holder design is an ArgentA classic line from Kolchugino. You can place the three sets side by side — they look like a family, differing only in the central image: the master of the house (empty field for personalization), the state (double-headed eagle), and the patron saint (St. George).

What's in the set?

• Podstakannik "St. George the Victorious" antique patinated: 925 silver, height approx. 95 mm, Ø approx. 72 mm, approx. 129 g. Classical column structure with a central oval medallion, in which St. George on horseback with a dragon is sculpturally integrated. Recesses blackened, raised surfaces polished. Acanthus volutes, laurel wreath with bow, stirrup handle with pearl rim.
• Teaspoon "Imperator": 925 silver, length approx. 130 mm, approx. 23 g. Classical handle with an openwork oval handle crown and laurel leaf border — the handle crown offers an engraved initial field. Highly polished bowl.
• Crystal glass "Tschajny" (checkered): classic Russian tea glass, approx. 200 ml, 65 × 100 mm, cut checkered pattern. Replaceable consumable part, easy to replace.
• Premium Case Navy Blue: velvet-lined, approx. 132 × 132 × 165 mm. Protects the silver from air contact and is the ready-made gift packaging.

Gilded variant? Available upon request

Our standard set is the antique patinated variant with blackening. However, ArgentA also produces the heraldic medallion and the spoon handle crown in a gilded finish — Saint George then in warm gold on a silver base, comparable to our Double-Headed Eagle gilded set.

If you would like the gilded set variant, simply contact us briefly — we will order the special combination directly from the manufacturer in Kolchugino. Delivery time will be slightly longer than for the standard set, as the special configuration will be produced.

Alternatively: Both solo holders are already available without a set:

• Solo Holder "St. George the Victorious" antique patinated — same variant as here, but without glass, spoon, and case.
• Solo Holder "St. George the Victorious" gilded — the gold variant of the holder, also without set components.

Practical if you want to add several holders to a table service or use your own glass.

When is the St. George set particularly suitable?

• Father's Day gift for men with a connection to tradition, faith, or the military.
• Gift for Orthodox Christians — Saint George is one of the most important saints of the East.
• Name day "Georg" / "Georgi" / "Yuri" / "Jurij" / "George" — the saint is the patron saint of the name.
• Gift for horsemen, equestrians, horse breeders, riding instructors — the equestrian saint.
• Veteran honors, military anniversaries, retirement of soldiers and officers.
• Muscovites with a connection to their homeland — St. George is the patron saint of Moscow.
• English people or Anglophiles — St. George is the patron saint of England.
• Confirmation, christening, religious occasions for boys named Georg / Yuri / Jurij.
• Collectors of heraldic silver art — as a counterpart to the Double-Headed Eagle set.

Material and care

925 Sterling silver, highly polished, with blackening in the recesses of the heraldic medallion. The blackening is the typical ArgentA superficial patination (NOT Niello — that is a different inlay technique of our SevChern line).

• Clean holder and spoon only by hand with warm water, mild dish soap, and a soft cloth — never in the dishwasher, never rub away the blackening in the recesses with silver polish.
• Wipe dry after use, preferably store in the case — protects against air contact and delays natural tarnishing.
• Checkered glass: dishwasher safe on a short gentle cycle; by hand is gentler and crystal clear.
• If the polished areas tarnish more severely: use a soft silver polishing cloth without abrasive particles on the raised areas, never in the blackened recesses.

Comparison with other ArgentA tea sets

We now carry several ArgentA tea sets side by side. Which one suits which occasion?

• St. George the Victorious antique patinated (this set): Patron saint on horseback, dragon-slaying scene, antique patinated. Father, grandfather, horsemen, Orthodox Christians, Name Day George.
• Double-headed Eagle antique patinated: Russian heraldic eagle, antique patinated. Railway veteran, father, collector.
• Double-headed Eagle gilded: Heraldic eagle in gold, representative. Diplomats, offices, festive occasions.
• The Master: Same design, empty heraldic field for personal engraving. Director, father, business anniversary.
• Troika: Russian folk symbol, three horses in a winter sleigh. Russia enthusiasts, wedding, winter gift.
• Hunters at Rest (Perov): High relief based on Perov painting 1871. Art connoisseurs and hunters.
• Capercaillie Hunt: High game high relief, Capercaillie sculpture as spoon crown. Hunters, Hubertus brothers.

If you prefer to give coffee instead of tea: also check out our coffee sets Libellula and Rosalia.

Frequently Asked Questions about the St. George Set

Who is Saint George actually?
Saint George (Russian «Святой Георгий», Greek «Άγιος Γεώργιος») was a Roman soldier from the 3rd century, executed in 303 under Emperor Diocletian for his Christian faith. The dragon-slaying scene is a late medieval iconographic invention — symbolic: victory of good over evil. Today patron saint of England, Russia, Georgia, Moscow, Catalonia and many other countries and cities.

Does the set have a gilded variant?
The standard is the antique patinated variant (this set here). The gilded set variant with Saint George in gold on a silver background is produced by ArgentA on request — just send us a short message, we will order the special configuration directly from the manufacturer in Kolchugino. Delivery time will be slightly longer.

Is the holder also available without glass and spoon?
Yes — both solo holders are available from us: Solo holder antique patinated and Solo holder gilded. Practical if you want to add several holders to a service or use your own glass.

Is the blackening the same as Niello?
No. Niello is a sulfur-silver inlay technique (e.g., SevChern from Veliky Ustyug) where a black compound is melted into engravings. The ArgentA blackening is a superficial patination in the recesses that enhances the 3D effect of high reliefs. Both processes are high-quality but differ in technique, appearance, and care.

Which spoon is in the set, does it also have an emblem?
The "Imperator" spoon — the same as in the Master Set. Classical handle with an openwork oval handle crown and laurel leaf border. The handle crown is a blank field — no emblem, but ideal for a personal initial engraving.

Can I have the spoon engraved?
Yes, the openwork handle crown offers an engraving field — ideal for an initial, a date, or a family monogram. Hand engraving by a silversmith best suits the classical style.

How big is the drinking glass?
The checkered crystal glass holds approximately 200 ml — ideal for a classic Russian teacup with strong black tea. Note: ArgentA supplies either checkered cut or diamond cut depending on availability; both fit the holder and can be reordered.

Is the set suitable for women's gifts?
Saint George is symbolically a rider and warrior saint and is therefore traditionally considered masculine. For women, we recommend the gender-neutral sets Troika (wedding team, horse symbolism) or our coffee sets Libellula and Rosalia.

Is the set dishwasher safe?
No, not the silver components. Please clean the holder and spoon only by hand. The checkered crystal glass is robust and dishwasher-safe on a short gentle cycle — cleaning by hand is gentler for it too.

Who is the manufacturer?
The set comes from ArgentA, the silver manufacturer from Kolchugino in the Vladimir Oblast (Russia). Classic "Classic. Posuda" line — full in-house production from melting to hand polishing, ECO-certified 925 Sterling silver.