{"product_id":"silberbesteck-pope-und-balda-puschkin-925-silber-vergoldet-niello","title":"Silver Cutlery “The Priest and Balda” – Pushkin Series, 4-Piece, 925 Silver Gold-Plated with Niello","description":"\u003cp\u003eA priest who likes to employ workmen for nothing, and a Balda who serves him the bill with cunning: this cutlery set for one person tells Pushkin’s satire on greed with humour. Silver 925, gold-plated, with scenes on the back and a wooden box for the entrance. Hosts who appreciate punchlines will find their place setting here.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin: 2em 0; padding: 1.5em; background: linear-gradient(135deg, #f8f6f0 0%, #fff 100%); border: 1px solid #e8e0d0; border-radius: 8px; text-align: center;\"\u003e\n  \u003cp style=\"margin: 0 0 0.5em 0; font-size: 0.85em; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 2px; color: #967031;\"\u003ePushkin’s Tales in Niello Silver\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003ch3 style=\"margin: 0 0 0.5em 0; font-size: 1.3em; color: #090302;\"\u003eA punchline on the table\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003cp style=\"margin: 0 0 1em 0; color: #555; font-size: 0.95em;\"\u003eThe six tales of the Pushkin Series in niello silver.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/puschkin-maerchen-silber-niello\" style=\"display: inline-block; padding: 0.7em 2em; background: #090302; color: #fff; text-decoration: none; border-radius: 4px; font-size: 0.9em; letter-spacing: 1px;\"\u003eDiscover more tales\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"border-left: 4px solid #967031; padding: 20px; margin: 20px 0; background: #f2f2f2;\"\u003e\n  \u003cp style=\"color: #090302; line-height: 1.8; margin: 0;\"\u003e\n    \u003cstrong\u003eThe Priest and Balda cutlery in detail\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n    ✦ Contents: tablespoon, dinner fork, dinner knife, teaspoon (one place setting)\u003cbr\u003e\n    ✦ Dimensions: tablespoon approx. 195 × 44 mm, dinner fork approx. 189 × 24 mm, dinner knife approx. 223 × 27 mm, teaspoon approx. 134 × 29 mm\u003cbr\u003e\n    ✦ Weight: approx. 177 g for all four pieces without the box (tablespoon approx. 60 g, fork approx. 50 g, knife approx. 43 g, teaspoon approx. 24 g)\u003cbr\u003e\n    ✦ Material: 925 sterling silver, gold-plated, with hand-engraved niello; stainless steel knife blade\u003cbr\u003e\n    ✦ Front of the handle: cartouche with a lyre, Pushkin’s name and the tale’s title in Cyrillic script\u003cbr\u003e\n    ✦ Back: scenes from Pushkin’s satire of the priest and his workman Balda in niello\u003cbr\u003e\n    ✦ Manufacturer: SevChern, Veliky Ustyug\u003cbr\u003e\n    ✦ Engraving: after checking with the manufacturer, via the \u003ca href=\"\/en\/products\/gravur-service-20-zeichen\"\u003eengraving service\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n    ✦ SilberVerse card: free on request (\u003ca href=\"\/en\/pages\/ueber-silberverse\"\u003eSilberVerse card\u003c\/a\u003e, 15 × 10 cm)\u003cbr\u003e\n    ✦ Delivery: in the manufactory’s original wooden box, approx. 270 × 240 × 50 mm\u003cbr\u003e\n    ✦ Slight differences from the photo are a sign of handcraft, usually for the better\n  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBalda, little devils and a devil’s grimace\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn the tablespoon Balda sits at the sea. The handles are reserved for little devils with horns, and the teaspoon ends with a devil’s grimace that looks more comical than threatening. Anyone who turns it in the light sees how precisely the lines are drawn. At the front of each handle lies the cartouche with the lyre and Pushkin’s name together with the tale’s title, written in Cyrillic script.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eA satire with workman and goblin\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe miserly priest looks for a cheap workman. Balda asks only for three flicks on the forehead as wages, but works for seven. When the priest wants to get rid of him, he sends him to the devils to collect interest from the sea. Balda fools the devils with a rope and cunning, and in the end the priest pays his bill in the agreed currency. Like Till Eulenspiegel in German jest tales, the clever one here shows up the powerful.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNiello and the right polish\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn the silver stand dark lines that were fired into the engraving. After firing, it is polished, with measure, because the polish decides the contrast, as \u003ca href=\"\/en\/blogs\/silberkunst\/sevchern-geheimnis-5-gold-politur-finish\"\u003eour article on the finish\u003c\/a\u003e shows. In Veliky Ustyug the niello tradition has been documented since 1683. Paris World’s Fair 1937: gold medal for tableware of the Artel Severnaya Chern, whose motifs came from Pushkin’s tales.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOccasions with a wink\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor the milestone birthday of a man with humour, as an anniversary piece or as a gift for a silver wedding anniversary, when the couple likes to laugh together. Under the Christmas tree and for a wedding it surprises just as well, and as a business gift it shows self-irony. For \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/sammlerstuecke\"\u003ecollectors\u003c\/a\u003e the satire is a deliberate contrast to the rest of the series.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eQuestions about the Priest and Balda cutlery\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhich is a well-known Russian tale?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe tale of the priest and his workman Balda is one of them, even if it is more satire than magic. Anyone who likes humour will love it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs the knife blade made of silver?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNo, the blade is made of stainless steel and the handle of 925 silver. This way the knife keeps its edge for a long time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAre there matching cups?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, the \u003ca href=\"\/en\/products\/silberbecher-paar-pope-und-balda-puschkin-925-silber-niello\"\u003epair of cups The Priest and Balda\u003c\/a\u003e shows Balda before the priest and at the sea. For the table, the six place settings from the \u003ca href=\"\/en\/products\/silberbesteck-24-teilig-6-personen-puschkin-serie-925-silber\"\u003ecutlery case\u003c\/a\u003e belong with it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow do I clean the niello cutlery?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRinse with warm water and dry, nothing more. Dishwasher, silver dips, aluminium foil and baking soda attack niello, see the \u003ca href=\"\/en\/blogs\/nielloa\/nielloa-technik-erklaert\"\u003eniello guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs every place setting exactly the same?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe motifs, yes, but lines and contrast turn out a little differently from piece to piece, because every master guides the graver differently.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan the cutlery be given a dedication?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, via the engraving service. It is ordered along with it; the wording of your dedication goes in the “order note at checkout”. Afterwards we clarify room and execution with SevChern; if the engraving is not possible, the flat fee goes back to you. Anyone who prefers to give words without engraving receives a SilberVerse, created for the occasion and names and free on request.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin: 2em 0; padding: 1.5em; background: linear-gradient(135deg, #f8f6f0 0%, #fff 100%); border: 1px solid #e8e0d0; border-radius: 8px; text-align: center;\"\u003e\n  \u003cp style=\"margin: 0 0 0.5em 0; font-size: 0.85em; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 2px; color: #967031;\"\u003eEven more table silver\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003ch3 style=\"margin: 0 0 0.5em 0; font-size: 1.3em; color: #090302;\"\u003eCutlery sets for festive days\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003cp style=\"margin: 0 0 1em 0; color: #555; font-size: 0.95em;\"\u003eSilver 925 in a wooden box for the laid table.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/silberbesteck-925-sets\" style=\"display: inline-block; padding: 0.7em 2em; background: #090302; color: #fff; text-decoration: none; border-radius: 4px; font-size: 0.9em; letter-spacing: 1px;\"\u003eView cutlery sets\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"SevChern","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":59583139348812,"sku":"13031","price":2399.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0825\/4783\/5212\/files\/silberbesteck-pope-und-balda-puschkin-925-silber-freisteller.png?v=1793108802","url":"https:\/\/premiumgeschenk.de\/en\/products\/silberbesteck-pope-und-balda-puschkin-925-silber-vergoldet-niello","provider":"Premium Geschenkideen","version":"1.0","type":"link"}