Bratina with cover 19th century

This silver-gilt covered bratina was produced by the English firm Elkington & Co., known for its electroplated wares. The form of the bratina, a communal drinking vessel, takes its inspiration from 16th- and 17th-century examples produced in Russia for the Tsars. In the 19th century, there was growing interest in the past, and increased industrialization allowed manufacturers to reproduce historical styles and techniques. The Elkington firm acquired licenses for galvanizing and electroplating, which enabled them to mass produce silver objects like this one. The shape and decoration on this bratina are drawn from Russian designs but were intended for display rather than use. Aspects of nationalism, revivalism, and industrialization all coalesce within this object. To better understand this piece, further research might include examining Elkington & Co. design books and the records of international expositions where the company exhibited its wares. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.