Imperial Russian Copper Cachepot with Elephant-Head Handles, Moscow, c. 1900

Details

Description

Imperial Russian Copper Cachepot with Elephant-Head Handles, Moscow, c. 1900

An exceptional Imperial Russian copper cachepot or planter, produced in … Read more Imperial Russian Copper Cachepot with Elephant-Head Handles, Moscow, c. 1900

An exceptional Imperial Russian copper cachepot or planter, produced in Moscow in the late 19th to early 20th century and bearing a stamped factory mark with the double-headed Imperial eagle and pre-Revolutionary Cyrillic inscription “Фабрика въ Москвѣ” (“Factory in Moscow”). The use of pre-1917 orthography firmly dates the piece to the final decades of the Russian Empire.

The vessel is distinguished by its opposing stylized elephant-head handles, a powerful and deliberate motif associated with strength, stability, and imperial authority. Rendered in a restrained neoclassical manner, the elephant heads are abstracted yet unmistakable, with almond-shaped eyes and trunks forming the curved handles. This iconography reflects the Russian Empire’s absorption of French Empire and German Historicist design, adapted for elite domestic, institutional, and garden interiors.

The body is crafted from heavy hand-hammered copper, exhibiting visible planishing beneath a richly developed original patina. The form is balanced and architectural, with a rolled rim and stepped foot, giving the piece both visual weight and structural integrity. The interior shows authentic oxidation and mineral deposits consistent with long-term use as a planter or cachepot, underscoring its functional history rather than decorative revival manufacture.

Such vessels were commonly used in conservatories, winter gardens, townhouses, and dachas, often housing ceramic or zinc liners, or planted directly. The scale and durability suggest it was intended as a permanent architectural accent rather than utilitarian kitchen copper.

Today, this cachepot presents as a sculptural object equally suited to display indoors or in a protected garden setting. Its imperial symbolism, documented Moscow manufacture, and commanding presence place it well above generic European copperware and firmly within the canon of late Imperial Russian decorative arts.

Dimensions:
9" high x 10.5" diameter (rim)
12.5" wide to handles
9" diameter base

Condition:
Very good antique condition. Retains original patina with surface wear, oxidation, and interior residue consistent with age and use. No structural issues observed. See less