ASCAS Association of Small Collectors of Antique Silver ASSOCIATION OF SMALL COLLECTORS OF ANTIQUE SILVER
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by Robert Massart
 
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TWO VODKA SERVERS FROM EAST EUROPE

In 1993, when the Czechoslovakian Federal Republic had just split into the Czech Republic and Slovakian Republic, my wife and I toured around in both countries.
We took advantage of this occasion to visit several antique shops. At that time the antique shops in Prague were already very expensive due to German antique dealers and American soldiers based in Germany buying large amounts of crystal articles and antiques (I saw some shops selling crystal items, without any stock anymore after a few visits of the Americans).
Near the Polish border in Slovakia we found two similar vodka servers; one in Spišska Sobota and one in Poprad, where we bought them at reasonable prices.
Both items are in excellent condition. I assume they are made of electroplated silver, as I am not acquainted with their marks.
Both articles display beautiful craftsmanship and the original glasses of both servers are all still intact.
Vodka servers are containers holding glasses suitable to drink the vodka in one shot. Their shape allows placing crushed ice in the bottom in order to keep the alcohol cool. Servers are also manufactured also to hold vodka and caviar as well.
Description of my vodka servers:

Silvered Vodka Server 1
Silvered vodka server in the shape of an apple resting on a tray of eight leaves . The vodka server contains six original crystal shot glasses. The bottom of the apple is punched "111 A" and the tray has an "8 and a flower within a circle" mark. The shape of the vodka server allows placing crushed ice below the small glasses to keep the vodka cool.
The diameter of the server is 100 mm and its height is 89 mm (stem of the apple not included).
Total weight : 450 gram.
Bought in an antique shop in Spišská Sobota (*), Slovakia (near the Polish border).

(*)Spišska Sobota is actually an administrative part of the town of Poprad, Slovakia.

 

 
Silvered Vodka Server 2
Silvered vodka server in the shape of an apple, resting on an eight leaf tray. It contains six original shot glasses with a gilded band. The bottom of the tray bears this mark: a rosette over SANDRIK in a triangle. No mark on the server. Diameter 100 mm, height 95 mm (stem of the apple not included).
Total weight: 499 gram.
Bought in an antique shop in Poprad, Slovakia (near the Polish border).
 
Robert Massart
- 2007 -