Samovar presented to the Japanese emperor from Tsesarevich Nikolai Alexandrovich during his trip to the Far East in 1890-91

The samovar is one of the most iconic symbols of Russia, along with onion-domed churches, matryoshkas and fur hats. A temporary exhibition at the Tsaritsyno Estate provides a rare glimpse at the broad variety of these fancy “self-boilers.”

Some 200 samovars from the 18th to early 20th centuries are on display, all from the private collection of three generations of the Lobanov family from St. Petersburg. According to the curators, it’s the world’s best collection of samovars from those times, including items by renowned craftspeople and producers from various regions of Russia. In compiling the collection, the Lobanovs sought to bring together objects reflecting the history, origins and development of the samovar as an integral part of Russian domestic culture, while at the same time showing the wealth, variety and talent of local craftspeople.

Curator Yelena Dremova told RIA Novosti that the most interesting exhibits include a samovar decorated with laurel and maple leaves, made especially as a gift to the Japanese emperor from Tsesarevich Nikolai Alexandrovich (the future Tsar Nicholas II) during his trip to the Far East in 1890-91. Others belonged to such notables as writer Mikhail Bulgakov and Provisional Government Prime Minister Alexander Kerensky.

To further immerse visitors in the atmosphere of the Russian tea ceremony, the exhibition includes related objects such as tea pots and cups, sugar bowls and serving trays.

“Birds of Gzhel” is included as an extra exhibition, consisting of Archpriest Alexei Potokin’s private collection of the distinctive blue and white ceramics. The 140 items include vases, jugs, tea pots, sugar bowls, plates, trays, beer mugs, clocks, and figurines.

© Moscow News. 21 August, 2012

Pyotr Stolypin, one of the last major statesmen of Imperial Russia and Prime Minister under Tsar Nicholas II, used to say “Russia without samovars is not Russia!” Alexei Lobanov, a collector of samovars from St. Petersburg, likes to repeat this statement. His collection of savovars, metal containers, which were traditionally used in Russia to heat and boil water, are on display in the Tsaritsino museum in Moscow from July 12 to September 9.

Although he is a professional lawyer, Alexei continues to supplement the family collection of samovars which was started by his great-grandfather and his father. Their family collection counts more than 200 exhibits. In an interview with the Voice of Russia Lobanov confessed that he is now so deep into the subject that he knows what is what as good as a professional ethnographer.

"Our collection will shed more light on the development of samovar as a symbol of Russian culture," Lobanov says. "Samovar appeared in Russia at the beginning of the 18th century, and our collection includes a spate of rare hand-made samovars that were in use in Russia between the 18th century and the beginning of the 20th century.Subsequent years saw the beginning of mass production of samovars which were of little interest to me," Lobanov adds.

A metal container traditionally used to heat and boil water, a samovar turned into an important attribute of a Russian household.

In previous years, Lobanov’s samovars were on display in Paris, Prague and the Norwegian town of Bodo, attracting scores of visitors. The hope is that the Moscow exhibition will not be an exception.

© The Voice of Russia. 15 July, 2012

An exhibition of Zhostovo trays has opened at the Tsaritsino Museum and Preserve in southeastern Moscow. About 400 one-of-a-kind trays painted in the famous Zhostovo style are on display.

The craft originated in the village of Zhostovo near Moscow. A local master, Osip Vishnyakov, organized decorative tray production there in the first half of the 19th century.

The initial patterns of tea-drinking, troika horse rides and landscapes were gradually replaced by easy-to-recognize bright floral design that became Zhostovo’s trademark.

© Voice of Russia. 18 April, 2011