by Willand Ringborg ©
(click on photos to enlarge image)
SOVIET TIME SILVER SALTS - SEMI-ANTIQUES TO COME?
The extraordinary silver and jewellery craftsmanship in Russia during the 19th and the early 20th
centuries was dashed to the ground by the revolution and World War I. The following decades were
rather a Russian fight against poverty. The slow industrialization did not concern consumer
goods, particularly those things that were not a necessity. The official version is that skilled
craftsmanship and cultural heritage was preserved and maintained – which was not true. In art,
a short period of freedom to express and an avant-garde appeared, but was followed by Lenin’s New
Economic Policy of 1924 that closed down any 'unnecessary' activity. And the proclaimed style of
art, 'Social-Realism' did not go together with silver and gold.
However, after World War II, a minor reappearance of silver pieces for general sale became
visible, but organized the soviet way – industrialized production by all-union plants delivering
to the entire Soviet. And specialization, one plant made some few varieties and still another
was mass-producing another design. All manufacturing was centrally controlled by 5-years
production plans.
Let us look into some examples from those smallest things that were affordable even by the
masses. The bread and salt tradition of welcoming guests - a small piece of bread dipped into a
salt cellar - had a long ceremonial history in Russia, and there was a latent, if not manifest,
demand for salt cellars in silver. And salt cellars are small and affordable. In the 1950-s an
industrial production in several plants started in different republics of the Soviet Union.
One example, made in a Moscow plant, is a small round bowl and another in flat design, both with
manual engraving, motives similar to that from the late tsarist period; - leaves, flowers, fruits
and nuts. The producer was Moscow Jewellery and Watch Factory starting in 1952 (after 1956 only
Jewellery) and producing up to 1962.
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Moscow salt cellars, engraved with various ornaments, 1950-s, gold plated inside
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In Riga (Latvia was incorporated by Soviet from 1940) the production was even more
industrialized, no manual engraving, cast silver. The patterns were neo-classical, meander,
laurel and vault band on the same basic design shape. The rich silver smith’s tradition in
the Baltic States was not given any respect, rather the opposite. The producer was Riga
Jewellery and Watch Factory also starting in 1953, and just as in the Moscow plant, from 1956 only
Jewellery (maybe in the shift of 5-year plans the watch production was moved to another
plant, or, more probable, it never started).
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Riga salt cellars, ornamental varieties, 1950-s
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From Tallinn (Estonia, as Latvia and Lithuania, was incorporated by the Soviets in 1940) small cheap
silver salt cellars on three legs in pressed silver tin were distributed over the continent,
produced by the Tallinn Jewellery Plant from 1953. Later, another Tallinn plant (Combinate of
Household-Services 'The Spark') produced heavier cast salt cellars with neo-classic ornament, a
meander band. The silver content is generally 875 corresponding to the tsarist period, 84
zolotnik.
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Tallinn varieties from two different plants, 1950-s.
The bigger one was also produced in a deluxe version in 916 silver content,
corresponding to 88 zolotnik
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In the genuine salt ceremony in ancient times the salt should be served from a salt cellar
shaped as a chair where you opened a lid under which the salt was kept. This was also a
traditional gift wishing luck. These salt cellars were crafted by the most skilled silver
smiths as one-of-a-kind pieces with traditional rich old Russian ornament and engravings.
In the Soviet 50-s a variety of this model came up as a mass production subject in filigree
thread and pressed glass bowl. |
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The Soviet salt chair response, mass produced silver plated filigree chair
with glass bowl, to an old one-of-a-kind Russian tradition
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But the salt spoons? They were not present in the salt and bread ceremony and thus not as
necessary, but there were simple ones appearing from the above plants, a pressed circular
tin sheet with a soldered silver thread.
One kind appears in the permanent exhibition held in all major cities, showing industrial
progress. A salt spoon, almost ironically, was also shown.
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Salt spoon from Moscow Jewellery and Watch Factory,
1950-s with the letters (in Latin spelling) V D N CH, an abbreviation for
'Exhibition of Accomplishments of the Peoples Economy'
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The advanced design and mass production was, according to Soviet planning wisdom,
addressed to one plant, Leningrad's Jewellery Plant. It started also in 1953 and Leningrad
(nowadays St Petersburg) has been a sustainable supplier till late 70-s (although transferred
to Jewellery and Watch Factory 1962-68 and in the 70-s to Production-Technical Association
'Russkie Samotsvetye' - Russian Treasures). The design was picking up the traditions of
enamelling from tsarist times and the handles were partly decorated with cloisonné enamel on
silver spoons covered with gold plating. In the 50-s and 60-s the enamel was limited to some
few colours, turquoise and dark blue, in the 70-s red and green reappeared.
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Two salt spoons from the 50-s, two from 60-s with
slightly modified pattern and two from the 70-s with richer enamel colours
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But weren't there any pieces of unique design with a stylish attempt not to copy the widely
accepted neo-classic patterns? For sure it was, probably limited series of more
exclusive products were manufactured for the elite. One example is an extraordinary solid
and heavy (46 grams) salt cellar from Riga Jewellery Plant 1965, with a design which might
be expressed as brutal-functionalism |
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Silver salt serving, gold-plated bowl and spoon, 1965, not in original case
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Are these Soviet pieces, of doubtful taste and mass produced, of any artistic or collector
value, or just historical artefacts of a command economy trying to respond to its citizens'
demand for small valuables in a poor living?
Yes and no. Small collectors collect small things and for sure these pieces - not any longer
manufactured - will receive greater interest. The silver content is 875/1000, some varieties
have a substantial silver weight and the stamps are there to prove authenticity. They are
meant for use and thus gold-plated (salt mis-colours pure silver). They have an appealing
charm in their simplicity and will be more observed as things to collect, for use or just
for pleasure.
Willand Ringborg © - 2006 -
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ASSOCIATION OF SMALL COLLECTORS OF ANTIQUE SILVER
