SERVICE À PUNCH RUSSE EN ARGENT PARTIELLEMENT DORÉ ET ÉMAILLÉ...
SERVICE À PUNCH RUSSE EN ARGENT PARTIELLEMENT DORÉ ET ÉMAILLÉ
PAR LYUBAVIN, ST PÉTERSBOURG, 1899-1904
Comprenant une importante bratina bombée couverte, douze charki, une louche et un plateau ; l’ensemble repoussé et ciselé de rinceaux feuillagés dans le goût rocaille.
La bratina, reposant sur quatre pieds à enroulements, est munie de prises en forme de putti ; son couvercle amovible est surmonté d’un fretel également figurant un putto et gravé des initiales « ED ». Le corps est appliqué d’une plaque en émail guilloché représentant le drapeau suisse, encadrée des armoiries de Saint-Pétersbourg et de Genève, ainsi que de la date « 18 mars 1875-1900 ». Il porte en outre l’inscription gravée en français :
« À Mr Eugène Dupont / XXV / La Colonie Suisse de St Petersbourg ».
Le plateau, de forme rectangulaire chantournée, est muni de deux anses et repose sur six pieds à enroulements. Les charki conservent leurs timbales (une manquante), avec intérieurs dorés.
L’ensemble porte le poinçon « Lyoubavine » en caractères cyrilliques. Il est conservé dans son coffret d’origine en bois garni de velours, accompagné de son coussin d’origine aux couleurs du drapeau russe sur une face et du drapeau suisse sur l’autre.
Bratina: H. 34 cm. (13 3⁄8 in.) avec le couvercle ; L. 31 cm. (12 ¼ in.) avec les anses ; D. 21.5 cm. (8 ½ in.)
Poids brut : 8 790 g.
Provenance
Offert à Eugène Dupont (1839-1901) par la communauté suisse de Saint-Pétersbourg à l’occasion de son départ à la retraite en tant que consul général, en mars 1900.
Literature
A LARGE AND IMPRESSIVE RUSSIAN ENAMEL AND PARCEL-GILT SILVER PUNCH SET
BY LYUBAVIN, ST PETERSBURG, 1899-1904
Eugène Dupont
Born in Troinex, then part of the Canton of Geneva, Eugène Dupont came from a modest Catholic family. He attended school in Carouge and Geneva before enrolling at the newly founded Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, where he trained as an engineer.
After graduating and returning to Geneva, he contributed to the construction of the Mont Blanc Bridge in 1862. He soon entered public life and served on Geneva’s Grand Council from 1866 to 1868. During this period, he notably opposed the radical politician Antoine Carteret in the intense debates between Protestants and Catholics over the establishment of a bishopric in the canton.
At a time when Geneva was expanding rapidly and urban mobility was becoming a pressing concern, Dupont demonstrated remarkable foresight. In 1864, he built the Geneva–Rive-Chêne tramway, then known as the ‘American Railway’ because it was horse-drawn. Connected to the Carouge line inaugurated two years earlier, it would eventually become today’s Line 12, widely regarded as the oldest tramway line in Europe still in continuous operation.
The success of this venture led Dupont to pursue opportunities abroad. In 1869, he settled in St Petersburg where he established himself as a prominent engineer and entrepreneur. He became director of the Russian Construction Company in 1873, concessionaire of the Riga tramways, and, in 1874, director and co-owner of the first St Petersburg tramway company. He later acquired or managed tramway concessions in Riga, Kaunas (then Kovno), and Tver.
His influence and standing within the Russian Empire prompted the Swiss Federal Council to appoint him Swiss Consul General in St Petersburg, a position he held for twenty-five years. In recognition of his services, the Russian government awarded him the rank of Commander of the Order of Saint Anne.
The present punch set was presented to Dupont by the Swiss community in St Petersburg upon his retirement as Consul General in March 1900. The gift commemorated a distinguished career and was offered during a grand celebration held in his honour.
After returning to Geneva, Dupont resided first on the Quai du Mont-Blanc and later in his villa at Collonge-Bellerive. He died unexpectedly in 1901, only a year after his return to his native canton.
SERVICE À PUNCH RUSSE EN ARGENT PARTIELLEMENT DORÉ ET ÉMAILLÉ
PAR LYUBAVIN, ST PÉTERSBOURG, 1899-1904
Comprenant une importante bratina bombée couverte, douze charki, une louche et un plateau ; l’ensemble repoussé et ciselé de rinceaux feuillagés dans le goût rocaille.
La bratina, reposant sur quatre pieds à enroulements, est munie de prises en forme de putti ; son couvercle amovible est surmonté d’un fretel également figurant un putto et gravé des initiales « ED ». Le corps est appliqué d’une plaque en émail guilloché représentant le drapeau suisse, encadrée des armoiries de Saint-Pétersbourg et de Genève, ainsi que de la date « 18 mars 1875-1900 ». Il porte en outre l’inscription gravée en français :
« À Mr Eugène Dupont / XXV / La Colonie Suisse de St Petersbourg ».
Le plateau, de forme rectangulaire chantournée, est muni de deux anses et repose sur six pieds à enroulements. Les charki conservent leurs timbales (une manquante), avec intérieurs dorés.
L’ensemble porte le poinçon « Lyoubavine » en caractères cyrilliques. Il est conservé dans son coffret d’origine en bois garni de velours, accompagné de son coussin d’origine aux couleurs du drapeau russe sur une face et du drapeau suisse sur l’autre.
Bratina: H. 34 cm. (13 3⁄8 in.) avec le couvercle ; L. 31 cm. (12 ¼ in.) avec les anses ; D. 21.5 cm. (8 ½ in.)
Poids brut : 8 790 g.
Provenance
Offert à Eugène Dupont (1839-1901) par la communauté suisse de Saint-Pétersbourg à l’occasion de son départ à la retraite en tant que consul général, en mars 1900.
Literature
A LARGE AND IMPRESSIVE RUSSIAN ENAMEL AND PARCEL-GILT SILVER PUNCH SET
BY LYUBAVIN, ST PETERSBURG, 1899-1904
Eugène Dupont
Born in Troinex, then part of the Canton of Geneva, Eugène Dupont came from a modest Catholic family. He attended school in Carouge and Geneva before enrolling at the newly founded Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, where he trained as an engineer.
After graduating and returning to Geneva, he contributed to the construction of the Mont Blanc Bridge in 1862. He soon entered public life and served on Geneva’s Grand Council from 1866 to 1868. During this period, he notably opposed the radical politician Antoine Carteret in the intense debates between Protestants and Catholics over the establishment of a bishopric in the canton.
At a time when Geneva was expanding rapidly and urban mobility was becoming a pressing concern, Dupont demonstrated remarkable foresight. In 1864, he built the Geneva–Rive-Chêne tramway, then known as the ‘American Railway’ because it was horse-drawn. Connected to the Carouge line inaugurated two years earlier, it would eventually become today’s Line 12, widely regarded as the oldest tramway line in Europe still in continuous operation.
The success of this venture led Dupont to pursue opportunities abroad. In 1869, he settled in St Petersburg where he established himself as a prominent engineer and entrepreneur. He became director of the Russian Construction Company in 1873, concessionaire of the Riga tramways, and, in 1874, director and co-owner of the first St Petersburg tramway company. He later acquired or managed tramway concessions in Riga, Kaunas (then Kovno), and Tver.
His influence and standing within the Russian Empire prompted the Swiss Federal Council to appoint him Swiss Consul General in St Petersburg, a position he held for twenty-five years. In recognition of his services, the Russian government awarded him the rank of Commander of the Order of Saint Anne.
The present punch set was presented to Dupont by the Swiss community in St Petersburg upon his retirement as Consul General in March 1900. The gift commemorated a distinguished career and was offered during a grand celebration held in his honour.
After returning to Geneva, Dupont resided first on the Quai du Mont-Blanc and later in his villa at Collonge-Bellerive. He died unexpectedly in 1901, only a year after his return to his native canton.
