Food service: Samovar and tea service set belonging to P. T. Barnum
[BLANK]
P. T. Barnum (associated with)
1820 – 1844 (Date manufactured/created)
19 in H
X
13 in W
, 13.625 in Diameter
Measurement Notes: This is the samovar with lid on.
Gilt silver tea service consisting of six pieces: a large samovar for heating water; a very large, footed tray on which the samovar sits; and a teapot, creamer, lidded sugar bowl, and a waste bowl (for used tea leaves). Although possibly Russian made, the set was acquired by P. T. Barnum around 1845, while he was in Paris, France. The original owner died on February 19th of that year and his estate was auctioned a few months later.
The elaborately designed rococo revival style set includes the family crest of the Russian prince Peter Ivanovich Tyufyakin. Each of the six pieces has the crest on it, which features a crown at the top and a symmetrical drapery framing an oval "shield." Barnum, not having a crest of his own, decided to adopt this one, and he used it on a number of items that he himself had made when he returned to America.
This set is made of silver upon which a thin layer of gold was applied to the surface (gilding), thus it is "gilt silver." Much of the gold has been worn away over time and the set now has the appearance of warm hued silver, and is not intensely "gold." However, the lining of the waste bowl is more yellow-toned than the other pieces, as it has the traditional "gold wash" applied to the interior surface. The handles of the teapot and creamer are made of ivory. It is unknown when this set was made, but most likely it was created in the early 1800s, and perhaps around 1825 when its original owner, Prince Peter Ivanovich Tyufyakin, left Moscow to live in Paris, France. Rococo is often described as exuberantly decorative, and a close look at these items, especially the samovar, reveals the rich ornamentation. The style was mainly derived from nature. Note the pomegranate fruit knobs on the lids, and in other areas, the many shells and leaves that are densely combined to form a textural surface. In addition, the samovar features the grotesque faces of mythical creatures or satyrs, part human and part goat. Barnum favored this ornate style throughout his adult life, probably as a result of his European trip when he was exposed to the costly furnishings, artwork, and decor in royal palaces and the homes of aristocrats.
The use of a samovar is common in Russia and the Middle East. It is used to bring water to a boil; beneath the pot there is a device where a flame is lit to heat the water. Traditionally, strong, concentrated black tea was made in the teapot and then poured into the serving teacups, allowing room for the addition of water. Hot water was dispensed from the samovar into the teacups to adjust the tea's strength to individual taste. Used tea leaves and tepid tea water were dumped in the waste bowl.
The family crest featured on the object originally belonged Peter Ivanovich Tyufyakin, who was a Russian noble living in Paris (see below.) The Tyufyakin crest was adopted by P.T. Barnum when he purchased items in Paris, France, in 1845 at a sale of the man's belongings following his death. In his autobiography, Barnum explains that items with the crest were priced solely on the value of the silver and gold they contained, since the crest was not a desirable feature to wealthy buyers who had their own family crests. Other items such as a large set of dinnerware featuring the crest on each piece seemed of little interest to buyers, but caught his attention in part because the prince's initials were "P" and "T". Thus he only needed to add a "B" to make them his. Barnum never stated the name of the late Russian prince.
Examination of the Russian Empire Roll of Arms, published in 1797 shows that the crest belonged to the Тюфякин family, which can be rendered in the Roman alphabet as Tioufiakin or Tyufyakin, who held the noble rank of "prince" - the highest rank one could have without being a member of the royal family. The last member of the family to hold use the crest was Пётр Иванович, Peter Ivanovich (1769-1845), who spent the last two decades of his life living in Paris opposite the opera house. Prior to that,Tyufyakin was noted for helping to reinvigorate the Imperial Theatres in Russia, making them profitable, and even inviting Western actors to perform in Moscow. He died in February of 1845 with no heirs. In Paris, he was noted for giving grand balls, where doubtlessly the fine china that Barnum purchased was used. It is worth noting that the eagle and the solider in the crest are switched in earlier versions of the family crest. It is unclear when the version painted on the china came into use. It is also unclear how Barnum's three initials were applied to the china, since they are perfectly centered, and that would not be the case if he was adding the "B" to "P T".
Barnum continued to use the items he acquired throughout his life, as portions of the sets can be seen in photographs of the dining room in his last home, Marina, which was built in 1888-1889.
The elaborately designed rococo revival style set includes the family crest of the Russian prince Peter Ivanovich Tyufyakin. Each of the six pieces has the crest on it, which features a crown at the top and a symmetrical drapery framing an oval "shield." Barnum, not having a crest of his own, decided to adopt this one, and he used it on a number of items that he himself had made when he returned to America.
This set is made of silver upon which a thin layer of gold was applied to the surface (gilding), thus it is "gilt silver." Much of the gold has been worn away over time and the set now has the appearance of warm hued silver, and is not intensely "gold." However, the lining of the waste bowl is more yellow-toned than the other pieces, as it has the traditional "gold wash" applied to the interior surface. The handles of the teapot and creamer are made of ivory. It is unknown when this set was made, but most likely it was created in the early 1800s, and perhaps around 1825 when its original owner, Prince Peter Ivanovich Tyufyakin, left Moscow to live in Paris, France. Rococo is often described as exuberantly decorative, and a close look at these items, especially the samovar, reveals the rich ornamentation. The style was mainly derived from nature. Note the pomegranate fruit knobs on the lids, and in other areas, the many shells and leaves that are densely combined to form a textural surface. In addition, the samovar features the grotesque faces of mythical creatures or satyrs, part human and part goat. Barnum favored this ornate style throughout his adult life, probably as a result of his European trip when he was exposed to the costly furnishings, artwork, and decor in royal palaces and the homes of aristocrats.
The use of a samovar is common in Russia and the Middle East. It is used to bring water to a boil; beneath the pot there is a device where a flame is lit to heat the water. Traditionally, strong, concentrated black tea was made in the teapot and then poured into the serving teacups, allowing room for the addition of water. Hot water was dispensed from the samovar into the teacups to adjust the tea's strength to individual taste. Used tea leaves and tepid tea water were dumped in the waste bowl.
The family crest featured on the object originally belonged Peter Ivanovich Tyufyakin, who was a Russian noble living in Paris (see below.) The Tyufyakin crest was adopted by P.T. Barnum when he purchased items in Paris, France, in 1845 at a sale of the man's belongings following his death. In his autobiography, Barnum explains that items with the crest were priced solely on the value of the silver and gold they contained, since the crest was not a desirable feature to wealthy buyers who had their own family crests. Other items such as a large set of dinnerware featuring the crest on each piece seemed of little interest to buyers, but caught his attention in part because the prince's initials were "P" and "T". Thus he only needed to add a "B" to make them his. Barnum never stated the name of the late Russian prince.
Examination of the Russian Empire Roll of Arms, published in 1797 shows that the crest belonged to the Тюфякин family, which can be rendered in the Roman alphabet as Tioufiakin or Tyufyakin, who held the noble rank of "prince" - the highest rank one could have without being a member of the royal family. The last member of the family to hold use the crest was Пётр Иванович, Peter Ivanovich (1769-1845), who spent the last two decades of his life living in Paris opposite the opera house. Prior to that,Tyufyakin was noted for helping to reinvigorate the Imperial Theatres in Russia, making them profitable, and even inviting Western actors to perform in Moscow. He died in February of 1845 with no heirs. In Paris, he was noted for giving grand balls, where doubtlessly the fine china that Barnum purchased was used. It is worth noting that the eagle and the solider in the crest are switched in earlier versions of the family crest. It is unclear when the version painted on the china came into use. It is also unclear how Barnum's three initials were applied to the china, since they are perfectly centered, and that would not be the case if he was adding the "B" to "P T".
Barnum continued to use the items he acquired throughout his life, as portions of the sets can be seen in photographs of the dining room in his last home, Marina, which was built in 1888-1889.
BF 1989.051.001 AF