Bidspirit auction | RARE 18TH C. IMPERIAL RUSSIAN

RARE 18TH C. IMPERIAL RUSSIAN SILVER-GILT PINEAPPLE CUP 1765 - An exceptionally rare, museum-quality 18th-century Imperial Russian silver-gilt covered cup or chalice, crafted in the classic Renaissance Ananaspokal (Pineapple Cup) form. The heavy, lobed bowl and cover are masterfully chased and repoussé-worked to mimic a pineapple, supported by a naturalistic tree-trunk stem featuring a miniature climbing woodcutter figure. The cover is surmounted by a prominent, pierced Imperial Russian double-headed eagle finial. The piece is lavishly finished with bright mercury gilding over the solid 84-standard silver. Marks: Fully hallmarked on the rim with the Moscow city mark (St. George), the 84 zolotnik standard, the date mark for 1765, and the Cyrillic maker's mark ”В.А”. A spectacular survival from the early reign of Catherine the Great. 18th century russian silver, catherine the great, moscow silver chalice, imperial russian double headed eagle, silver gilt pineapple cup. Dimensions Height 10 1/4 in. Diameter 2 3/4 in. Weight 211 g. Condition Excellent Antique Condition. The cup retains a brilliant, heavy mercury-gilt finish both inside and out, with only very minor age-appropriate high-point rubbing. The complex repoussé work, the figural stem, and the pierced finial are structurally intact and remarkably well-preserved. Clearly and fully hallmarked.