Silver Cutlery “The Tsar’s Daughter” – Pushkin Series, 4-Piece, 925 Silver Gold-Plated with Niello

Mirror, apple, seven helpers: anyone who knows Snow White recognises the material at once. This cutlery set for one person tells Pushkin’s Russian version on the backs of the spoons, fork and knife, in 925 silver, gold-plated and engraved with niello. It is a place setting for hosts with a sense for stories.

What the place setting tells

On the tablespoon the tsarina holds the mirror, and in the handle you can see the tsar’s daughter. The fork carries mirror and apple, and in its handle stands a figure with a staff. The teaspoon shows a scene in the house, its handle a small figure in a cap. The knife has a handle engraved all around. On the front of the handles sits the cartouche with a lyre; the tale’s title stands there next to Pushkin’s name in Cyrillic script.

The story behind the pictures

“The Tale of the Dead Princess and the Seven Knights” begins with a jealous tsarina. Her mirror one day names her stepdaughter as the fairest in the land. The young woman is taken into the forest and lives with seven knights until the tsarina sends her a poisoned apple. Only her bridegroom Yelisey brings her back to life, when the coffin bursts apart. Mirror, apple and seven helpers are known from Snow White too; the kinship is unmistakable.

Silver, gold and dark lines

The interplay of bright silver, golden rim and dark drawing comes from niello: the engraved line is filled with a dark mass and fired in, and with every polish the contrast looks clearer. Niello art has been documented in Veliky Ustyug since 1683. How gilding and polishing are done, we tell in the article about gold and polish. At the Paris World’s Fair of 1937, tableware of the Artel Severnaya Chern with Pushkin tale motifs was awarded a gold medal.

Occasions for this place setting

For a wedding it gives a tale for the shared table, for a silver wedding anniversary or a milestone anniversary a piece with weight. A milestone birthday, Christmas and the business gift for connoisseurs of Russian culture are also possible. Collectors of the series find here a tale with an especially rich set of symbols: mirror, apple, coffin.

Questions about The Tsar’s Daughter cutlery

Is gold-plated the same as gold?
No. Gold lies only as a thin layer on the silver, and this changes nothing about the core: it is made of sterling silver with 925 parts silver per 1000.

Which is a well-known Russian tale?
Pushkin’s tales are part of the fixed canon in Russia. This tale of the tsar’s daughter is one of the best known, and thanks to Snow White it is immediately accessible to German-speaking readers.

Do cups or charki match?
Yes, the tale is also available as the pair of cups The Tsar’s Daughter and as the charki pair The Tsar’s Daughter. If you need six place settings, the cutlery case with 24 pieces carries scenes from Pushkin’s tales on every piece.

Is the knife made entirely of silver?
The handle is made of 925 silver, the blade of stainless steel. This way the knife cuts reliably at the table.

How do I clean the cutlery?
Rinse by hand, dry straight away, put it back in the box. Dishwasher, silver dip and baking soda or aluminium foil tricks are off limits; they harm the niello. Details in the guide to the niello technique.

How does the cutlery get a personal dedication?
Add the engraving service to the cutlery and let us know your wording in the “order note at checkout”. Whether the engraving can be executed cleanly, we discuss with SevChern; if not, the flat fee goes back to you. As a greeting without engraving there is a SilberVerse, created individually for the occasion and name and free on request.