From the imperial era, period of Tsar Nicholas I, the bowl of this rare ladle is fitted with a ½ a coconut shell rimmed in delicately engraved silver, in the Renaissance style when coconut mounted cups and implements were made for royal collections, attached to a rosewood baluster shaped handle.

With town hallmark for Kharkiv, maker’s and assaymaster’s initials, 84 for the Russian silver standard and date of 1844. It is stamped in three places: on silver rim, silver handle (in full) and base of handle, a sign that it is completely original, no added or changed parts. Harkov, dated 1844, maker I O and assaymaster K+C

-18.5 in. (47 cm) long, the bowl-5 1/8 in. long (13 cm) long

Wear consistent with age and use. Two small cracks on edge of shell (see images). Wood handle slightly loose.