A SWEDISH BRATINA

This bratina (see information in What is? Silver Dictionary)) has been marked by silversmith Arwid Falk in Stockholm 1676 - 1691. It measures: diameter 144mm, height 123mm, weight 388,3g, capacity 1200ml. There is a scratching on the bottom: 91¼ no o/mn, which could mean the weight in zolotnik. 91¼ z corresponds to 389,0g. The actual weight is 388,3g. Because of this I believe that the bratina has been exported to Russia. There are two French import marks (the tiny swan mark) One on the foot and the other on the upper rim. This means that the item has been brought to France after 1893. There are engraved Cyrillic Slavonic marks around the rim and on the bottom. There are three groups of marks, separated from each other by foliage.

Just recently I learned what these slavonic letters mean. The problem with these marks is that this "wave" or "titlo" above a letter means in slavonic either a number or an abreviation. The explanation in this case is that the first two letters (KA) are the initials of a person. The third letter (I) means his rank "a monk" and the T an M would mean the Monastery of Tikhvin or Trinity. The rest is one word and means that this bratina is personal property of this monk and intended to be used in his chamber. The engravings under the bottom mean the weight 93 zolotniks. The explanation of the text is shown under each letter. This text also confirms that this bratina has been used in Russia and travelled from there to France and back to Sweden where I bought it a few years ago

Text explained by Elena Yukhimenko from State Historical Museum, Moscow