The device of the samovar
Since the 1830s, in the general development of Russian art, a new stage has come, characterized by the search for a new style. Along with the works of classicism, others appeared, in which the appeal to historical styles was traced. This phenomenon is called eclecticism or historicism. Samovars of this period were created, mostly in the style of the neo-Greek. A popular form was the form of an ancient vessel - the crater. This form was borrowed from porcelain vases, in large quantities produced at this time by the Imperial Porcelain Factory. Similarity to the crater cup was reinforced by a low neck, usually deaf, without a lattice. Such samovars were decorated very sparingly: only the creek and the place where the handles were fixed to the body were decorated with overlays with a pattern resembling acanthus. At this time, handles were made without wooden roller holders, a metal figured overlay connected the hooks of the handles. One of the possibilities to enhance the decorativeness of the samovar, avoiding the use of purely decorative details, was the faceted wall. By the 1840s, the fashion for the so-called "second Rococo" comes, for which a rich lavish ornamentation is characteristic. The base, handles, top of the body and the faucet were decorated with curbs from stylized intricate floral curls and flowers. By the middle of the 19th century, the "neo-Greek" style came into fashion. Samovar takes the form of a crater - a Greek vessel for mixing wine, which occurs in porcelain, crystal, stone vases. This form was borrowed and samovar.
Samovar in the interior
A richly ornamented samovar, with its utilitarian purpose, is already perceived as an artistic thing, as a work of decorative and applied art; It is included in the table setting, in the interior design.
St. Petersburg. Alexander Kach. Melchior, silvering, mother-of-pearl.
The second half of the XIX century.
A tray was necessarily attached to the samovar, it protected the table from heating, with it the process of tea drinking from the samovar became more convenient, elegant. The trays were made in the same samovar factories, the cost of the samovar, they were offered to the buyers as a set for the cost of samovars, from the same materials as samovars, that is, from brass, copper, nickel plated brass. The forms of the trays were very different: round, oval, rectangular. The most preferred form was "oblong" or "semicircular". The tray was elongated rectangular, but one of the short sides was rounded. Another popular style of samovar trays was "Petersburg", so in some price lists a tray of complex shape was called, consisting of two parts: to a narrow rectangle, to one of its short sides, a circle was attached. In the rectangular part of the tray, a samovar was usually placed, and in the round part - rinse cups and other tea utensils. All the old trays were with wide, bent edges, often with relief patterns, engravings, the central part of the tray could also be decorated with engraving, usually of a vegetable character. The samovar set also included rinsing cups or rinsers, objects quite specific, designed specifically for samovars.