SILVER SWEETMEAT DISH LADYA. SECOND ARTEL. MOSCOW, 1908-1917

A rare Russian silver sweetmeat dish in the form of a Ladya (boat), produced in Moscow by the Second Artel between 1908 and 1917. This refined work exemplifies the final flowering of Imperial Russian silver, harmoniously combining the elegant linearity of the Late Art Nouveau with the monumental classicism of the Neo-Empire style that emerged during the 1910s.

The elongated boat-shaped bowl is mounted with a clear glass liner secured within a finely crafted silver framework. The composition is distinguished by the interplay between the restrained symmetry of the vessel and the expressive sculptural handles, whose flowing forms reflect the dynamic aesthetics of Russian Art Nouveau. The enlarged classical motifs, characteristic of the decorative arts of the pre-war decade, lend the object a sense of architectural monumentality while preserving its refined functionality.

Executed in cast and chased silver with a fitted glass insert, the piece demonstrates the exceptional craftsmanship associated with Moscow silversmiths of the early twentieth century. The contrast between the luminous transparency of the glass and the polished silver mount enhances the elegant silhouette and underscores the sophisticated design language of the period.

Hallmarks: Registered maker`s mark of the Second Artel, 2A; Moscow District Assay Office mark depicting a female head in a kokoshnik facing right, accompanied by the district code, the Greek letter Δ (Delta), and the silver standard 84 within an oval cartouche; official Moscow District Assay Office control mark depicting a female head in a kokoshnik facing right with a dot behind the neck within a circular punch.

Dimensions: Height: 9 cm. Height including handles: 19.5 cm. Length: 26.5 cm. Width: 12.5 cm.

Weight: Silver weight: 349 g. Total weight: 866 g.