KB 001

The body is shaped like a vase with a stepped constriction near the top. The base is square, set on four flattened ball-shaped feet. The draft opening has decorative cutouts; the ash-pit cover is missing. The spout ends in a curled scroll and rests on a smooth rosette. The spigot key is crafted in the shape of a stylized heart with a round element at the top. The handles are vertical, in the Empire style, connected by wooden grips. The lid is flat, fitted with two wooden knobs. The crown has three decorative openings; the chimney cap is missing. A worn maker’s mark is visible on the lid. The base bears the inscription: “FABRIKA NIKITA I KONSTANT CHERNIKOV’S” (“Factory of Nikita and Konstantin Chernikovs”). Additional marks include: — On the upper part of the fire tube, the stamp “IIIXX” and another mark “6” or “9” inside a rectangle (the same mark appears on the rim of the lid); — On one corner of the base underside, another “IIIXX” mark. The samovar is slightly tilted forward. Purchased from a private seller via Craigslist (California, USA) in 2008. This was the first samovar that began the entire collection.