Museum Collection
Silver Cup
This cup was presented to Cossack Stepan Lashchilin on the day of his election chieftain of Stanitsa Mikhailovskaya as evidenced by the inscriptions engraved: “In fond memory of the Old Chieftain” (on the outer surface of the cup) and “To Chieftain S.M. Lashchilin, Stanitsa Mikhailovskaya. 1905” (on the bottom).
Early in the XX century, Stepan Mitrofanovich Lashchilin was chieftain за Stanitsa Mikhailovskaya the Khopyor District, the Region of Voysko Donskoye (now the Volgograd Region). For exemplary management of the stanitsa’s economy he was invited to Saint-Petersburg, where, at the Emperor’s reception, he was awarded a Silver Cup (the destiny of the Cup is unknown at present). In 1906, the chieftain’s son was born, a future writer, historian, folklorist, ethnographer, the Member of the USSR Union of Writers.
In 1938, Boris Stepanovich Lashchilin as a correspondent for the USSR Press Agency met with M.A.Sholokhov. By that time he had collected rather a big and interesting ethnographic, historical and folklore material. Не had long talks with Sholokhov. Mikhail Alexandrovich spoke warmly about the works of Lashchilin. The writer knew how difficult it was in those years to collect and preserve the history of the Russian people, particularly, Cossacks.
After the death of B.S.Lashchilin, his descendants gave his archive to the Museum-Reserve of M.A.Sholokhov. Among the 124 objects there was a unique silver cup.
The bottom of the cup bears a stamp: silver plate-mark 84. It is known ,that from November, 25,1779, it was allowed to brand silver no less than 72 and up to 84 plate-mark. (Complete Collection of the Laws of the Russian Empire, vol. 10, paragr. 14.949. 1775 – 1780).
The brand “ВК” tells about the master, who made this object: it was Vasily Akimovich Kubarev, who worked in the workshop of the Trading House “Morozov” (it is proved by the brand “Morozov” under the coat of arms).
The Trading House “Morozov” was founded in 1849, in Saint-Petersburg, by the merchant of the first Guild, Ivan Ekimovich Morozov and located in the Gostiny Dvor. The company had its own jewellery workshop, performed a lot of major orders, it was considered one of the best in Russia and had a title of court supplier. From 1894 till 1917, the company was managed by the son of Morozov, Vladimir Ivanovich, and it specialized in the silverware for the imperial table.
This unique piece of the Lashchilins’ collection will soon be displayed at the Museum exhibition.
Eduard Khurumov
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