Coffee service
Medium
Silver, parcel gilt, enamel, wood
Dimensions
See individual records
Classification
Metalwork-Silver In Combination
Culture
Russian, St. Petersburg
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1947
Accession Number
47.51.1–.5
Art Historical Context
This exquisite coffee service, crafted in 1773 by silversmith Johan Henrik Blom and enameler Pietro Rotari in St. Petersburg Russia, exemplifies the opulent metalwork of Catherine the Great's era. during the height of the Russian Empire's neoclassical revival, it reflects the imperial court's fascination with refined domestic luxury. Coffee services like this were prized status symbols, enabling elegant social rituals among the aristocracy, where serving coffee became a sophisticated display of hospitality. The service combines silver with parcel gilding—selective application of gold for shim...