Best of Russia --- Culture --- Samovar

Samovar (Tea-urn) is a purely Russian invention. Its origin is connected with tea. Tea was delivered to Russia from the territory of West Mongolia in the 17-th century and was used as medicine among the nobility.

Tea was a competitor of sbiten, the most favourite drink in Russia. Its components are: hot water, medical herbs and honey.

The samovars became the symbol of Russian hospitality and family comfort as well as the sign of prosperity. It remains most stable attribute of domestic coziness. Step by step a peculiar ritual of tea-drinking emerged and was adopted in every Russian homse. In compliance with it, a hostess or her elder daughter poured the tea. Some families held two samovars, one, more plain, for everyday use, and a dearer one - for receptions and festivities. There were homes with separate samovar-rooms whose interior was crowned by the samovar.

"Tea drinking", Mstera School of painting.

A bit of a History

It is difficult to say when the first ever samovar was made, but they became widely spread throughout the country with the introduction of tea and coffee.

The first samovar was probably made in Tula in 1820. After a while, Tula became known as the center of Russian samovar production (in addition to the production of munitions and other metalworks). Samovar manufacture appeared to be very profitable. By 1900, there were 40 samovar factories in Tula with an anual production of around 630,000. The Batashev Metalworks, which became one of the most famous factories, produced 110,000 samovars alone each year.

Samovars were made from cupronic-kel, red and green copper, pinchbeck, in some cases - from silver. Sometimes they were plated with gold, silver, but basic metal was always - brass. In the course of centuries samovar shapes changed. By the end of the 19-th century their quantity reached 165. It was almost impossible to mechanize samovars manufacture completely. Tools were also unchanged. By hand assembly five-six samovars per day were produced. The highest peak of samovar manufacture in Tula is related to the 80s of the 19-th century.

Prices reduction in the process of manufacture caused standardization of samovar shapes. The so-called cylindrical samovars were widely spread.

During all the 19-th century portable samovars were produced in Tula, as a rule, they were many-sided, cubic, right-angled.

Production technology was greatly improved for two hundred years. There are used presses, conveyor lines, casting under pressure. At "Shtamp" plant nickel-plating automatic line was introduced. Some samovars are decorated with art rolling. The plant produces samovars of different types: coal — of six versions, from 1956 — electrical, volume 2-3 litres, for buffets, combined and painted.

Folk traditions exist, develop. Beautiful samovars made as presents are produced at Tula plant. Tula samovars were often awarded with medals at native and international exhibitions.

Russian samovars vary in interior construction and exterior decoration and purpose. Samovars came in various shapes and sizes depending on their use. Most were small, around 18 inches high, and were used in homes and offices. Larger samovars could be several feet in hight and diameter. Traveling samovars were equipped with handles and removable legs. Others had compartments for preparing food. The metalworkers of the Russian samovar factories provided exquisite detail in silver, silver plating on copper, bronze, copper, steal, cast iron.

Tula samovars were spread all over Russia. At the fairs there were sold samovars of different shapes: vase-shaped, pear-shaped, wine-glass-shaped and others.

Samovars are a necessary feature of the Russian mode of life and consequently a part of Russian applied art. Among monuments of folk domestic art samovars occupy specific place. They may be considered not only as domestic utensils, some of them are real works of applied arts. Each true master wanted to astonish the customers be their creative fantasy.

The earliest samovars resembled English tea urns or tea vessels. Later, at the end of eighteenth century, samovars began resembling vases and antique urns.

Strict design, durability in combination with decorative qualities caused interest to samovars on the part of the people all over the world.

At the first samovars were sold by weight. If samovar were heavier, it would be more expensive. All basis details of samovar were manufactured from brass by the technique called "cold stamping". The covering of inside surface is a foodstuffs tin. Mostly samovars have an artistic painting of an outside surface.

"At the Tavern", Fedoskino School of painting.

Every samovar with hand painting has it's own style and is not only article of arts and crafts, but also a good remembering gift.

Modern day Russians still use the samovar quite often. However modern technology has provided for electric samovars which don't require the use of charcoal. As in old, these samovars are found in kitchens, offices, and even on Russian Trains. And the use of the samovar has spread from Russia to much of eastern Europe.

Site Produced by

--- Contact --- Disclaimer --- Last updated in April 2003.