THE MURCHISON SALVER: A HIGHLY IMPORTANT ENGRAVED, ETCHED, AND PARTIALLY GILDED STEEL PRESENTATION SALVER WITH ORMOLU MOUNTS MADE AT THE COMMAND OF TSAR NICOLAS I UNDER THE DIRECTION OF GENERAL PAVEL PETROVICH ANOSOFF DESIGNED BY IVAN BOYARSHINOV AT THE ZLATOUST ARMORY AND PRESENTED TO SIR RODERICK IMPEY MURCHISON

Research:
Of etched and engraved steel, partially gilded, with gilt-bronze handles.

The central vignette depicting the Zlatoust Arms Factory and engraved around its border:

Геологу Р Мурчисону (To the Geologist Murchison) 
в знакъ особаго уважения  (In testimony of its particular esteem) 
отъ Российскаго Горнаго Ведомства (The Administration of Mines in Russia)
Златоустъ 1843 года (Zlatoust 1843)

Interspersed with landscapes bearing minutely inscribed names of each locale:
Таганай (Taganay), Аушкулъ (Aushkul Mountains), Миассъ (Miass), Уралъ (Ural River),

And framed by an elaborate scrolling foliate design

The outer border with etched depictions showing the processes of blade making with figures dressed à la greque, and four roundels at the corners containing allegorical figures of the elements.

The rim of the salver decorated with a gilded diaper pattern centered by repeating flowerheads and edged with a Vitruvian scroll motif. Two gilt-brass handles on each end of the tray with central arabesque and laurel leaf design, terminating in shell forms.

This remarkable engraved and gilded steel salver was gifted in 1843 by the Russian Administration of Mines to the British geologist Roderick Impey Murchison, “one of the leading gentlemen of science”¹ and the most politically powerful geologist² of the nineteenth century. Tsar Nicholas I personally ordered this gift and worded the inscription it bears in Cyrillic, which reads: “To the Geologist Murchison / In testimony of its particular esteem The Administration of Mines in Russia, Zlatoust 1843.” 

This object is of exceptional size, quality and complexity; its decoration incorporates etching, engraving, gilding and burnishing to create vignettes of the local geography of Zlatoust and a minutely detailed narrative of the processes in the manufacture of objects in steel. This salver is the only example of its kind and caliber known to exist. As an Imperial token of gratitude, the salver reflects the scientific importance and economic value of the research provided by Murchison to the Russian Nation, as well as the respect and admiration felt between the geologist and Tsar Nicholas I himself.  

Full research report available on request.