Pair of Silver Cups “The Golden Cockerel” – Pushkin Series, 925 Silver Gold-Plated Inside with Niello

A cockerel on the tower’s peak that announces danger, a tsar who breaks his word, and a queen from afar: Pushkin’s tale of the golden cockerel is a fable about power and measure. Two silver cups, gold-plated inside, carry it on. The pair suits people who appreciate operas and tales, festivities with high standards and collections of Russian art.

Tent, tower and the cockerel above the tsar

On one cup the Queen of Shemakha stands before her tent, a man with a crown in front of her. The other shows the golden cockerel above the bearded tsar, with a tower rising behind. The figures are small and yet clearly recognisable, made by a master’s hand and framed by dense floral tendrils. The wide rim shines golden, as does the inside.

When the tsar breaks his word

Tsar Dadon is old and wants peace, but neighbours threaten the realm. An astrologer gives him a golden cockerel that crows at danger and is promised a wish in return. Later the tsar falls in love with the Queen of Shemakha and does not want to grant the wish. The cockerel keeps the last word. Rimsky-Korsakov set the material as the opera “The Golden Cockerel”. The same story is also available as silver cutlery.

A drawing beneath the surface

With niello nothing is applied: the drawing goes into the metal and stays fired in there, permanently joined with the silver. How gold and polish are added is described by an article from our journal. Every piece comes from Veliky Ustyug, a centre of niello art with a first mention in 1683. In 1937 a gold medal went in Paris to the Artel Severnaya Chern of the time, for tableware with Pushkin motifs.

Occasions for the cockerel pair

For a silver wedding anniversary and a milestone anniversary you give two cups with meaning. As a luxury gift for men for a milestone birthday it makes as much of an impression as it does as a business gift or Christmas surprise for connoisseurs. The cutlery case with six place settings goes with it when the whole table is to tell the tale.

Questions and answers about the cockerel pair of cups

What is niello silver?
Silver into whose engraved lines a dark mass is fused; the drawing then sits in the metal. The background is explained by the niello guide.

Which tale does the golden cockerel come from?
From Pushkin’s tale about Tsar Dadon. On the cup you see cockerel, tower and tsar; you will find more stories at Pushkin’s Tales in Niello Silver.

What does gold-plated mean for the cups?
The inside and the wide rim carry a thin layer of gold, the body is made of 925 silver.

Are the cups meant for drinking?
Yes, for water, wine or vodka; when you toast, every guest holds a scene of their own in their hand.

How do I store the cups?
After washing by hand, dry thoroughly, never clean in the dishwasher and care for them without aluminium foil or baking soda. Then they keep dry in the box.

How do I add a dedication?
You order the engraving service with the cups and state in the “order note at checkout” what you wish for. Whether room and execution fit, we then check with SevChern; if that is not the case, we refund the flat fee. If you like words without engraving, you get a SilberVerse, a verse for your occasion and the names, free on request.