What do medals on samovars mean? The history of the samovar in Russia, its origin Where is the stigma of the coal samovar
For almost a century and a half, the samovar has been an integral part of Russian life. V. I. Dal described the samovar in his dictionary as follows: “A water-heating vessel for tea with a pipe and a brazier inside.” In Europe, the samovar was called the "Russian tea machine".
In our time, there are no longer flame samovars, they have long been out of use, electric samovars and electric kettles have replaced the samovar. However, lately interest in such samovars has been steadily increasing, primarily due to the massive development of suburbs. Such a craving for a samovar with a brazier is quite understandable; it was and remains the embodiment of Russian hospitality.
Those who wish to have an antique samovar in their country house or cottage can easily purchase it at the antique market, which quite successfully supplies everyone with old samovars. There are enough samovars on the market, but the appearance, quality and artistic merit are different. They differ in manufacturing time, volume, appearance, price. It is very difficult for a simple buyer, unlike a collector, to understand all the subtleties, although collectors sometimes do not know how to evaluate this or that samovar. Indeed, for example, only one samovar factory of V.S. Batashev in Tula produced more than fifty forms of various samovars. Even more samovars of various shapes and sizes were produced by the factory of I.F. Kapyrin, and if we also take into account other manufacturers of samovars, it becomes not so easy to determine the methods for calculating the price of this popular market product.
The main question of the market - what for how much? You can answer it only if you know everything about the product. In addition, the buyer needs to be aware of the state of the antique market section as a whole. The solution of such a complex issue in the presence of a large amount of material is always associated with the systematization of the subject of research.
Let's do our systematization. Conventionally, we will divide all samovars into three categories. Rare samovars belong to the first category; as a rule, they are made at a high artistic level and from expensive materials. Rare samovars do not often find their way to the antique market, and the price here is determined by the seller, and the buyer either purchases at the price given by the seller, or starts looking for a samovar at a different price. The second category includes samovars, made with good artistic elaboration, having a non-standard shape, covered with silver. There are many more such samovars on the market, and here both the seller and the buyer can reach an agreement on the price. Here, the buyer must also have an idea about the state of the market and the product offered. The third category of samovars includes products that were mass-produced, ordinary, purely functional. The price for such samovars, as a rule, is offered by the buyer himself, which he can pay, but even here he needs to know the market conditions for such samovars.
Category one. It includes extra-class samovars, which were made in a piece copy for individual orders, or in small series. Such samovars, as a rule, were made in the style of Russian classics and Empire, and due to their highly artistic finish, they became objects of arts and crafts, which in most cases were used as interior decorations rather than as vessels for making tea. Samovars, which were made according to individual orders, were made, as a rule, from silver, less often from silver-plated copper, and very rarely from copper or brass.
Here are some examples. One of the rare examples of samovars, which is made in the Empire style, its shape resembles a classic vase, which rests on a bronze square base, decorated with a floral pattern, with four round legs with a vertical notch. The samovar itself is decorated with a gilded openwork bronze belt in the form of a vine with bunches of grapes. The drain of the tap is made in the form of a stylized muzzle of a horse, the swivel is in the form of a small bird, the handles are made in the form of winged deities, with flower garlands. The material from which the samovar is made is mainly copper and brass, most of the details of the samovar are covered with gold.
To determine its value, in this particular case, you need to know: 1) when it was made - the beginning of the 19th century, 2) what art style is Empire, 3) the quality of the samovar is high, 4) on the Russian antique market, samovars of this level are very rare, they almost never occur.
Antique salons, apparently focusing on these features, set the price for a samovar at fifty thousand dollars.
Another example from the same category is a samovar made by the Moscow factory of Carl Faberge - "Leshy". The samovar is made in an unusual style inspired by Russian folk tales. In its form, the samovar is a classic example - a vase with two handles. The surface of the samovar vase is made in the form of a stylized head of a humanoid creature, and the handles look like protruding ears of this creature. The crane is made in the form of a knot with leaves, and the crane's turntable is a few leaves connected together. The base-blower in the form of intertwined roots and branches, made in an openwork style, complements the general appearance of this rare item. The main material from which the samovar is made is silver, some details of the samovar are covered with gold. On the base there is a nominal stamp of the company "K. Faberge. The samovar was made between 1899 and 1908.
The fate of the samovar is also interesting. In 1917, it was taken out of Russia, and in recent years it has been exhibited several times at auctions in London, with an initial price of 80 thousand pounds sterling, up to 120 thousand. At an auction in 2004, one of the Russian antique dealers bought it for 274,400 pounds and returned it to Russia.
To determine the price of this particular samovar, it is necessary 1) the samovar is branded with the firm “K. Faberge”, which proves its manufacture at a world famous company, 2) the samovar itself is an exclusive product, 3) the provenance of the samovar is known. Three indicators are enough for a product with the Faberge brand to determine its market value. The price for the Leshy samovar in Russia is several times higher than the price for which it was bought at an auction in London.
The second category, as a rule, includes samovars of rare forms, made of silver-plated brass, less often of applied silver or cupronickel, copper or brass. Under this category of samovars fall, and samovars made in Poland, which are particularly sophisticated, and samovars, which were made in the "samovar capital" in Tula, and samovars, which were made in Moscow and other industrial centers. The samovars, which were made in Warsaw, at the most famous Frazhe company, stand apart. This firm was the first to apply the method of electroplating with silver, samovars made of copper, brass, cupronickel. Samovars were supplied from Poland to Russia not only by the Frazhe factory, but also by other equally well-known firms of V. Norblin, R. Plevkevich and others. Samovars of these companies, decorated with engravings, cast garlands and mascarons, were popular in Russia until 1910.
A few examples from this category. One of the most beautiful samovars of R. Plevkevich's company is a sample of a samovar made of clad silver. The samovar was made in the form of a vase, with two handles in the form of plant shoots, decorated with satyr mascarons. There are holes at the base of the handles for heat dissipation, which are separated from the top by bone pads. The lower part of the samovar is decorated with picturesque decor, the middle part of the samovar is decorated with a pearl thread. The faucet of the samovar is cast, stylized as a horse's head, with a cork key. The base is cast, ending with four curly legs made of stylized plant shoots. The samovar bears the stamp "Plewkiewic w Warszawie".
Just as unusual and magnificent is another samovar made at the factory of B. Genneberg. The samovar is also made in the form of a silver-plated cupronickel vase with two handles in the form of plant shoots. The ash pan bears the nominal stamp "HENNEBERG - WARSZAWA - 985". The samovar was made in the middle of the 19th century. The samovar is made in the Empire style, on the front side of the samovar there is a cartouche, for a dedicatory inscription, decorated with roses tied with a bow. The drain cock is cast, made in the form of a stylized horse's head, with a toggle key with a bone grip. Thermal insulation of the handles is provided by bone washers. The upper part of the samovar is decorated with floral plant shoots intertwined with a ribbon.
The practice of the antique market shows that the price of samovars of the second category ranges from 3 thousand dollars to 10 thousand dollars. What determines the cost of samovars. Since almost all samovars of this category have almost the same volume of 5-7 liters, we will exclude this factor from further consideration. The other two factors are essential in considering this issue. The first factor is the time of manufacture of the samovar and the artistic style. The second factor is what material it is made of.
The third category includes samovars, which were mass-produced for everyday use in everyday life. The price of such samovars on the antique market ranges from $300 to $3,000. To make it clearer why household samovars fall into such a range of prices, it is necessary to at least in general terms understand the process of making samovars and their features, on which the price of a particular samovar depended.
Individual, unique samovars were made by craftsmen, while for mass production the technology for the production of the cheapest samovars was based on cooperation and specialization of individual manufacturers. The samovar consists of a large number of parts. For their production, there were artels that made various parts. Then all the parts were delivered to the factory, where a samovar was assembled from them. Sometimes on one samovar there were several brands, different masters. All this helped to reduce the cost of samovars, and ultimately to reduce their prices. It was samovars of the simplest forms that were the most massive, and therefore the cheapest.
The price of a samovar was also influenced by the material from which it was made. The most common and cheapest material in the second half of the 19th century was brass. Often, substitutes for silver, cupronickel and nickel silver, which imitated expensive silver samovars well, were used to make samovars, such samovars were much cheaper than silver samovars, and the demand for them among the population was great. For greater resemblance to a silver samovar, manufacturers of brass samovars often nickel-plated, nickel-plated and related items, bowls and trays. In this case, the price for nickel-plated samovars was higher than for samovars made of brass.
Manufacturers of samovars often overestimated the price of a samovar, not particularly increasing the cost of its production. Sometimes, the manufacturer of samovars simply put stamps on it, with a variety of medals from various exhibitions, both domestic and foreign. Almost all major manufacturers of samovars branded their products with imprints of medals from world exhibitions. Samovars with medals cost much more than their awarded analogues. The price for such a samovar was 15-20 rubles, while an ordinary samovar cost 8-10 rubles. It was because of the difference in price that some manufacturers put stamps on their samovars that did not rightfully belong to them.
The shape and size of the samovar plays a significant role in the cost of goods. At the beginning of the second half of the 19th century, forms and decor were standardized. The most common forms were, vases, blowers, acorns, jars and glasses. Often there are samovars that had the shape of a ball and an egg. Ball-shaped samovars were highly valued in Central Asia and Persia, where merchants exported them in large numbers. Household samovars, decorated with some kind of pattern, were in great demand. The prices for a samovar depended on the size of the samovar, which at that time were varied, small samovars, the capacity of which was designed for one glass, and large samovars, the capacity of several buckets. Large samovars were used in taverns and hotels, the capacity of such samovars reached ten buckets of water. For travelers, samovars were produced with a small volume, a compact body, removable legs and an unusual shape. Such samovars were produced by one of the most famous masters from Tula, Nazar Lisitsin. On his samovars, he put a nominal stamp. Such samovars were also produced by several other factories. The so-called tavern samovars, with a capacity of 35-50 liters, were sold by weight, and were much more expensive than their less capacious counterparts.
Let us trace the trends described above according to the "Price List" of the "Heirs of V. S. Batashev in Tula", which was released on February 18, 1914. The price list contains prices for both simple samovars of simple shapes and samovars of complex shapes. Separately, prices are indicated for samovars, which are made of various materials, having different volumes, etc.
What do we see on this price list. First of all, the dependence of the price of a samovar on its shape. The price of samovars of simple shapes, which were sold in bulk, is given in the price list per pood. The price for samovars of more complex shapes, which is given in the price list, was determined for piece goods. Stores sold such samovars by the piece. The material from which the samovars were made is another factor on which the price depended. If we take the price of samovars made of brass as a basis, then nickel-plated samovars of the same shape already cost 5% more, the same samovars, but made of tombac, were already estimated at 10% more expensive than brass ones. The third factor that affects the price of a samovar is its volume. The price for a pood of such samovars was 28 rubles according to the price list.
Naturally, not all cases from the practice of the antique market fit into this framework. Such, for example, samovars, as "tete-a-tete", do not fit into this framework. Having their unusual shape, such samovars are in high demand among collectors. Also in a special row are samovars made of pure copper, since there are very few such samovars on the antique market. The explanation for this fact is very simple, ash or clay was used to clean the samovars, as a result of such cleanings, the walls of the samovar were wiped through, after which the samovars were simply thrown away. Also, road samovars do not fit into the framework of the described scheme, since the price list is designed for samovars that were produced in mass quantities, which corresponded to the demand of buyers.
Over the past years, when the production of samovars was discontinued, some samovars were disposed of, some of them survived, but there are very few of them. The rarest examples of samovars are taverns. In the market of samovars, samovars of unusual shapes are rare. There are also few samovars made of silver on the antique market.
The antique market today presents a pie cut into different pieces. And each buyer is offered, based on his financial capabilities, tastes, a certain piece of the pie. Highly artistic samovars became a rarity, which became objects of arts and crafts. To buy such a samovar, a collector needs not only to have enough money, but also a share of luck and good luck, because the prices for such a samovar reach six-figure figures. A buyer who has set himself the goal of acquiring a samovar of average value, the work of an average master, but of an interesting shape and well decorated, made not of silver, but of simpler and cheaper materials, he will have more luck. Prices for such samovars range from $3,000 to $10,000. There is a great abundance of simple brass samovars on the antique market, and their prices are quite reasonable.
Hallmarks and medals on samovars
Historians cannot unequivocally indicate the date of production of the first samovar and stamping on it. It is most often claimed that the product was made by gunsmiths back in the 17th century. The samovar turned out to be an expensive item, its production required a special skill, so the craftsmen made sure to mark the place and name of the manufacturer.
The history of the development of the samovar brand
The first marks on samovars were made by handicraft masters. As a rule, these were prints in the form of inscriptions. The manufacturer indicated his last name, first name and city or village. In the 19th century, the brand became a brand name. The print contained information about the place of issue, the factory's affiliation, the master and the order by which the samovar was made. In addition, the most famous and major manufacturers put down the imprints of the awards given to their products at samovar exhibitions.
Such well-known manufacturers as the Lomovs, Lisitsyns, Morozovs, Kapyrzins and, of course, the Batashevs put their own brands. Official marks were registered by the Government of the country.
Back in the nineteenth century, pseudo-medals appeared. They were put in order to increase the cost of samovars produced in artisanal conditions. It was a kind of fake. Today there are also fakes.
Images on stamps
The first stamps and emblems affixed to samovars were an imprint of the factory name in the original frame. With the advent of large factories, emblems of famous families began to appear on the hallmarks. A striking example of this option is the Batashev brand. Teile samovars were engraved with a cannon, which was considered a reminder that production began with weapons.
The symbols of well-known manufacturers, the quality of which was confirmed at numerous exhibitions and noted by experts, were often forged. The counterfeiters used a variety of methods. For example, a sign of a fake is:
an image resembling the state emblem with significant deviations;
an indication of well-known surnames with the addition of the inscriptions "successor", "follower" (as a rule, the surname of the true manufacturer was specially overwritten or printed in small letters).
The most valuable branded samovars
Antique samovars are expensive. The price of a product is affected by:
date of manufacture and stamping (original products with fewer hallmarks were made earlier than products of the same manufacturer with numerous award marks);
the nature of the print (the cost depends on the manufacturer);
the state of the brand (it is the readable prints that deserve attention).
According to collectors, the most valuable today are samovars with the hallmark of the Dubinin, Kondratiev, Sevryugin factories, as well as collection and exhibition works of the famous Batashev, Teile, Lisitsin factories.
Tea drinking behind a samovar is a distinctive feature of Russian traditional life. The samovar was not just a household item, it personified well-being, family comfort and prosperity. It was passed on by inheritance, it was part of the girl's dowry. He flaunted in the most prominent place in the house, took pride of place on the table.
When did the first samovar appear
The history of the Russian samovar goes into the distant past. According to legend, the samovar was brought to Russia from Holland by Peter the Great. But according to documentary evidence, he appeared half a century after his death. We owe the origin of the samovar to tea, which appeared in Russia at the end of the 16th century. Its popularity grew rapidly; by the 19th century, tea was considered the most popular drink in Russia.
Already in the 18th century, sbitennik samovars appeared in Tula and the Urals, in which sbiten was cooked from honey, herbs, water and spices. The first mention of the samovar is found in the inventory of the property of the Onega Monastery, dated 1746. Tula is called the birthplace of the samovar, but some historians do not exclude that the first samovars began to be made at one of the Ural factories: Irginsky, Troitsky or Suksunsky. Historical documents kept in the State Archive describe a factory-made tinned copper samovar weighing 16 pounds. According to the research, it has been proven that it was made by Irga craftsmen in 1738-1740.
In the 19th century, a kerosene samovar was produced, at the factory of the Chernikov brothers they began to produce samovars with a side pipe, this improvement accelerated the boiling process, increased air movement. By 1812, the Pyotr Silin plant in the Moscow region was considered the largest enterprise for the production of samovars. 3000 pieces were produced annually. But by 1820, Tula became the leader in samovar production. For thirty years, 28 factories were opened there, annually producing 120,000 samovars.
The emergence of samovars gave rise to models of various shapes. Egg-shaped samovars with loop-shaped handles were popular, some models resembled an ancient Greek vessel, vases with legs in the form of lion's paws, which looked very solemn. They also made road models with removable legs. They were rectangular, polyhedral, cubic in shape. You could take them with you on a picnic, on a hike, on a trip.
The 19th century saw the flourishing of the samovar business in Russia. Each factory tried to create its own, unlike the other samovar. Spherical, smooth, conical, faceted samovars appeared. The volume was also different, reaching up to 20 liters. The people called samovars according to their shape: flame, turnip, vase, blower, acorn, Easter egg.
In the 20th century, the samovar was assigned only one role - boiling water and serving it to the tea table. Three forms were distinguished: conical, cylindrical, spherical flattened. The designs of handles, faucets, burners, legs have become more diverse. In 1912, the number of samovars produced in Tula reached 660,000 pieces per year. The history of samovars during the civil war was interrupted, since the production of samovars was temporarily suspended. It later resumed. Years later, already in Soviet times, they began to produce electric samovars.
Production of the first samovars
The process of making samovars was very complicated, it consisted of 12 stages. The whole process was divided into certain operations, each master did his job. Seven specialists participated in the production:
- Gunner. He bent and soldered a copper sheet, made the appropriate shape out of it. For a week he could make 6-8 blanks.
- Tinker. His work included tinning the inside of the samovar with tin. He could make 60-100 pieces a day.
- Turner. He sharpened and polished the samovar using a special machine, which was turned by a worker (turner). It was possible to make up to 12 pieces per day.
- Locksmith. Produced components (faucets, handles, legs).
- Collector. From individual parts, he assembled a samovar, soldered legs, taps. For a week he collected up to 24 samovars.
- Cleaner. This worker could clean up to 10 samovars a day.
- Wood turner. He was engaged in the manufacture of wooden knobs for lids.
Parts were made at home, only assembly and finishing took place in factories. Sometimes in the whole village they made one part for a samovar, once a week the parts were collected and taken on horseback to the factory for delivery.
Samovars were sold at fairs. Special samovar rows were organized at the famous fairs: Nizhny Novgorod and Makarievskaya. In early June, the Tula people sent samovars to Nizhny Novgorod. On horseback, the goods reached Aleksin, then along the Oka, their waterway lay to Nizhny Novgorod. This delivery was the best. Samovars were sold by weight, made of red copper were more expensive than models made of brass. To ask for a higher price, merchants resorted to tricks: they poured lead into the samovar, inserted a cast-iron grate.
Why tea from a samovar is so delicious
Anyone who has tried tea from a real Russian samovar at least once is convinced that tea from a samovar is much tastier. Why? The answer turns out to be simple. In an electric kettle, water boils too quickly, destroying the structure of the water, becoming useless, and harmful when repeatedly boiled. Turning the teapot over, harmful substances that collect at the bottom get into the tea. The spout of the samovar is located above the level of accumulation of heavy water, so you can get healthy water, soft and tasty. On top of the samovar there is a burner on which a teapot is placed. It does not boil, but is kept warm, insisting.
The most unusual samovars in history
Now samovars of that time can only be seen in museums. There were samovars made of copper, steel, brass, cupronickel, less often of silver. An exquisite samovar was made for Emperor Alexander the First, which is now kept in the Moscow Kremlin Museum. It was decorated with overlays in the form of lion heads, the cap was in the form of an angel figurine, and the faucet had the head of a bird of prey.
For the children of Emperor Nicholas II in 1909 in Tula, five small samovars were made, with a volume of one glass. Each had its own form: in the form of a vase, in the form of a glass, in the form of an antique vessel, in the form of a ball, a Greek amphora. All of them are preserved in the museum and are in working order. In the Armory, you can admire a samovar made of transparent quartz.
In 1922, the largest samovar was made at one of the factories in Tula. It held 250 liters of water and weighed 100 kg. It was presented to the chairman of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee Kalinin. Hot water was kept in it for two days, although it took about 40 minutes to heat it up. It is worth noting the smallest samovar in history. Its size is 1 mm, it consists of 12 parts and is made of gold.
To date, the most expensive samovars are the samovars of the Faberge workshops. Silver and gold were used for their production. Unique techniques of chasing and casting were used.
The first evidence of the appearance and practical use of samovars appeared over two millennia ago. In those ancient times, they were in great demand. And to this day, this demand is only growing. Moreover, the use should be both for direct purpose and for collecting. And if earlier it was believed that the price of such a unit depended on the severity and quality of the metals, the volume of the liquid being poured, today the pricing policy has changed somewhat.
When purchasing this nationally Russian teapot, its cost plays an important role. The most expensive are old models made of precious metals with stones. Often attention is drawn to the presence of awards. Some models are found in single copies. A variety of stamps were affixed both to the tea units themselves and to the stand. Absolutely rely on them without expert confirmation is not necessary. With prolonged service, they can be erased. Some manufacturers or collectors deliberately affix stamps to increase their value. Why overpay for it? The highest awards affixed on the surface must be documented. So, as an example, we can cite the Batashev factory, which had the right to stamp manufactured goods.
What factors determine cost?
In addition to the main parameters (manufacturing date, material, dimensions and functionality) that determine the financial significance of such equipment, you should pay attention to additional factors, which include:
- Storage conditions of the device - it is important to clarify exactly how the storage took place, how it was looked after earlier, whether it was affected by the negative influence of the external environment. With the active influence of cold or constant dust in the attic, the price is significantly reduced.
- Type of spare parts - the elements of the unit (forged or cast, assembled or factory) are of high importance. While keeping the original parts, it will have the best price. It is also worth noting the presence of hand-painted, which adds originality.
- Rules and features of courtship - methods of cleaning, grinding and polishing are taken into account. Previously, dishes and similar devices were cleaned with brick chips, which could cause scratches on the surface. Accordingly, after the restoration, the appearance of the product improved, but the cost was reduced. To determine this factor, it is important to make an examination so as not to run into scammers and not overpay.
Restoration of rarities is carried out by two methods. The simplest option is to buff to a shine to improve attractiveness. More complex is the museum restoration, in which the equipment is completely disassembled and every detail is carefully polished. This measure allows the product to be preserved for a longer period of time. But it should be understood that this reduces the thickness of the walls. Given that such rarities are purchased only for collecting and decorating the interior, this is not scary. It is no longer possible to make tea in them.
Samovars have been known since the 19th century, so today you can find collectible old models. Of course, the tea prepared in them has a unique taste and aroma. Previously, such drinks were valued even for their healing properties. Depending on your own preferences and financial capabilities, you can pick up an instance of any type, shape and configuration.
When determining economic significance, its type is also taken into account. The most expensive category is made up of rare items that have handmade decorations, as well as those that have survived to this day in single copies. You can meet them in museums or private collections. Items of a unique shape or lacquered with silver are cheaper. Anyone with an income slightly above average can buy them. Depending on what kind of precious metal was used and what is its thickness, the price can be reduced up to 80% of the original price.
The last group consists of ordinary household appliances, located in a fairly low price range (5-50 tr.). In the old days, people purchased two devices at the same time - for everyday use and holidays. Depending on the frequency of their operation and compliance with the rules of care and storage, the price range is also determined, calculated on the basis of such parameters as: exterior finish, type of material from which it was made, as well as the date of its release. In recent years, the price of such kettles has increased by about 15 times. In the online store "Samovarnaya Lavka" you can buy
For a century and a half, samovars have been an integral part of Russian life. They are a device for boiling water and making tea. Initially, the water in them was heated by an internal furnace, which was a high tube filled with charcoal. A little later, kerosene, electric and other types of samovars appeared. At present, they are almost universally replaced by teapots.
Vintage samovars: a bit of history
Today, these vintage devices with exquisite artwork are popular among collectors and connoisseurs alike.
In Russia, the tradition of tea drinking, as you know, came from the East, where there were special utensils for making tea drinks. But it was Russian craftsmen who invented the samovar in the form of a familiar device for all of us.
It is difficult to give an exact date for the appearance of such products, but the 19th century is considered the peak of their popularity. At this time, many factories were opened throughout the country, producing such products. But among them, it was the masters of Tula who became especially famous. Manufacturers such as the Lisitsyns, Kapyrzins, Lomovs, Shemarins, Gornins, Vorontsovs, Batashevs, Teile and many others were known both in Russia and in Europe.
The first manufacturers of samovars in Tula were the Lisitsyn brothers, who opened a samovar establishment at the end of the 18th century. Their products were famous for their exquisite forms. Also well known are the old Tula samovars of the Lomovs, who at that time produced about 1000 items a year.
As a rule, the whole family was engaged in the production of products, and their experience and tools were inherited. That is why there could be several hallmarks of masters on one product. Tula samovars were made not only directly in Tula itself, but also in its environs, but this did not prevent us from calling all samovars from these places Tula.
Initially, copper was used for manufacturing (more precisely, an alloy of copper and zinc). But since it was customary to polish these products to a shine, the copper samovar broke down very quickly. After some time, the craftsmen began to use brass and cupronickel.
Types of structures
According to the method of heating water, old samovars are divided into:
- Zharovye (coal, wood), from which the history of samovar business actually began. Almost any wood combustible materials (coal, wood, cones, etc.) can be used to heat water.
- Electrical. Water is heated by a heating element. The main advantage is the absence of smoke and soot.
- Combined, combining two types of water heating - from electricity and from the heat of burning fuel.
At the turn of the 19th-20th centuries, new types of samovars began to be produced: kerosene, Parichko products and Chernikovs’ copper appliances with a side pipe.
Also, ancient samovars differ in shape. Banks are considered the cheapest, then, in ascending order of price, a glass, a ball, and then a vase, an egg.
Volume of samovars
These devices vary in volume.
The most popular old samovars are coal-fired from 3 to 7 liters. Products smaller than 3 liters are usually more expensive than their larger counterparts because they are more difficult to manufacture and are rarer.
Electric samovars are from 1.5 to 3 liters. Larger sizes are quite rare.
Material for manufacturing
Samovars are made from different materials. The most common are brass products, as well as copper, cupronickel and tombac.
Copper samovars were considered festive, so they are the most expensive. Now mostly brass items with copper coating are sold, but you can also find an old copper samovar. On sale, most often there are gold-colored brass devices (they look very elegant, but need careful care for their surface) and nickel-plated brass devices (they have a silver color, they also look beautiful, but do not require special care).
Painted brass samovars are also widespread.
Flame samovars
From the point of view of antique value, coal-fired samovars, where the main fuel is coal, have the greatest attraction. Since in those days coal was far from affordable for everyone, firewood was often used for the firebox, which was laid in the inner pipe.
Among antique dealers, antique wood-fired samovars are no less in demand. Visually, they differ little from their coal counterparts. But true connoisseurs of antiquity will distinguish them instantly.
The most valuable are authentic products of the 17th - early 19th centuries, each of which is unique in its own way and is a work of art. The mark of the master is considered the standard of the highest quality of an old samovar.
Advantages and disadvantages of wood-burning samovars
These are real old samovars, which means that you can touch the real Russian tradition of tea drinking, which is almost two hundred years old. Plus frying products - the heated water in them cools down more slowly.
Among the disadvantages are:
1) Old flame samovars (their prices are very different) need to be heated when they are completely filled with water. If this rule is not observed, they can be soldered. Therefore, if it is necessary to heat the water in a cooled device, it is imperative to add liquid, and only then reheat it. However, it is not easy to melt an extinct samovar, therefore, most likely, you will have to drain the water, remove the old fuel, pour water and melt it again.
2) You can melt coal samovars only in open spaces, or insert a pipe into a special hood.
3) Flame samovars are much more expensive than similar electric ones.
Electric samovars
These products replaced their flame counterparts already in the era of developed socialism. By their design, they are much simpler and do not have the traditional sophistication of forms and elements. That is why electric samovars have the least collectible value.
Advantages and disadvantages of electric samovars
Electric options are more convenient to heat up, and with any volume of water (if only the heating element is covered). They can be used indoors. Most electric samovars have a thermal switch.
The main disadvantage of an electric samovar is that it is not a samovar, but rather a non-standard electric kettle. Here you can not smell the cones or apple twigs. After heating, it will cool faster than the flame one, since there are no slowly cooling coals inside it. They cannot be used in nature, as there is no electricity.
Combined vintage samovars
Since progress does not stand still, the purchase of a combined samovar will be a very successful acquisition, combining the advantages of flame and electric counterparts. You can melt such a device with firewood, and when the water cools down, heat it up with electricity. It can be used both outdoors and indoors.
The only disadvantage of combined samovars is their cost, which is higher than both wood-burning and electric versions of a similar volume and shape.
How much does an old samovar cost?
Those who wish to have an old samovar in their home without any problems can purchase it at the antique market, which very successfully supplies everyone with such products that differ in appearance, quality, artistic merit, production time, volume and price. It is quite difficult for ordinary buyers, unlike collectors, to understand all the subtleties, although sometimes even collectors do not know how to evaluate a particular product. After all, for example, only one Tula factory of V.S. Batashev produced more than 50 shapes and sizes of various samovars, and if you take into account other manufacturers, it becomes not so easy to determine the price of this popular product.
As we have already said, the cost of vintage samovars can be very different, depending on many factors. And first of all, it is the age of the product that is important here (the older it is, the more valuable). For example, a device that was released in tsarist times is several times more expensive than Soviet counterparts.
Equally important is the uniqueness of the samovar. Exclusive things, handicrafts have always been highly valued, and if the age of the product is solid, then this is, without a doubt, antiques. The same can be said about the form.
Another criterion that affects the price of a samovar is the popularity of the manufacturer, the presence of a manufacturer's stamp or brand of the manufacturer. So, for example, an old samovar with medals is much more expensive. In addition, the preservation and artistic value of decorative elements is important.
All samovars can be conditionally divided into 3 categories:
- Samovars are old (their prices are very different). They are made, as a rule, at the highest artistic level and made of expensive material. On the antique market, such copies are rare, and the price here is determined, as a rule, by the seller. The buyer is left to either purchase at this price, or look for another price. The cost of such goods reaches several tens of thousands of dollars.
- This category includes products that have a good artistic elaboration, non-standard shape, covered with silver. There are many more such samovars on the market, so the seller and the buyer can agree on a price. The price range fluctuates within 10 thousand dollars.
- This category includes mass-produced products, ordinary and purely functional. The price for such goods is usually offered by the buyer. Such samovars can cost approximately $500.
