Military cauldron, Russian (c 1812)

Title	Military cauldron
Nationality	Russian
Period	c 1812

Sold

MAGNIFY

This fine bronze pot has a tinned finish inside and out and was bought from a family who had taken it from the French in the Napoleonic wars, allegedly brought back on the retreat from Moscow before being captured by the English. The pot has extensive neoclassical design elements, the feet even being decorated with a Father Thames type figure.

This would have been an officer's cooking utensil and has the badge of the imperial Russian double eagle with St Andrew's cross on its chest. This may be interpreted as being a variant of the Preobrajensky Guard Regiment badge, which features St Andrew crucified as the main portion. On the other side there is a shield showing what might be an angel holding a torch with a river at its feet.

The whole pot would appear to be a high quality lost wax casting and is approximately eight inches high.

An experienced cauldron collector has commented that 'the last copper alloy cast cauldrons [of European make] were produced in the early years of the 18th century (last dated 1712), because cheap cast iron cauldrons took the market ... The quality appears far better than most English ones and probably comparable with the best German castings.' No surprise, considering the influence of German industrial design in 18th-century Russia.

If you want to comment on this item—re quality, age, etc—please email me.

[Militaria : Equipment : Russian : 19th Century]

online museum

account

testimonials