Large silver and vermeil presentation kovsh. 18th century. Bears the inscription in five cartouches: "Бжию Милостию Мы Екатерина Вторая" - "Императрица Исамодержица Всеросиская Ипрочая Ипрочая" - "Пажаловали симъ ковшемъ Воиска Уральскаго Приотомане Иване Донскомъ Зимовои Станицы Старшину Ивана Петрова сына Скворкина" - "Заего оказаныя службы" - "Всамъ Питербурхи Марта 5 дня 1788 года" (By the grace of God We Catherine II - Empress and Autocrat of all the Russias et caetera et caetera - gratify with this kovsh the starchin Ivan son of Petr Skvorkin of the winter camp under [the authority] of the ataman Ivan Donskoy of the Ural [Cossack] troops - for his faithful service - In St. Petersburg on March 5, 1788). Hallmarks: Moscow 1788, assayer "А-В" (Alexei Ivanov Vikhliaev), alderman "А-[А]/ К" (Alexei Kossyrev) and silversmith "ТС" (Timofei Filippov Siluyanov). Height: 12 cm; 30 x 16.5 cm; weight: 498 g It was a tradition already in the 17th century for Cossacks to send an embassy in winter to their allies and suzerains who were returning in spring. The purpose of this delegation, which consisted of several dozen men, was to bring back weapons (especially firearms), ammunition, provisions and subsidies for the year. In exchange for this confession, the members of the delegation received gifts according to their rank both on arrival and departure. These delegations were received with honor and treated at the expense of the state. The delegation of the Ural Cossacks is well mentioned on November 28, 1787 as presented to the Empress, and then on February 27, 1788 when the starchine Svorkine (sic!) and his companions were admitted to (kiss) the hand of The Empress. Diary of the Fourrier of the House 1787 and 1788. Ivan Donskov appears in 1773 as an ataman of the Sakmara stanitsa, but there is perhaps a confusion with Danila Dmitrievitch Donskov who was the designated ataman of the Ural Cossack troops from 1785 to his death in 1798. Ivan Petrovitch Skvorkine is a Cossack from the city of Uralsk. He was 31 years old in 1773. Nominal list of starchins and Cossacks, Yaitsk troops and their children, after the general census of 1765 with the indication of those who were born since and those who were struck off for various reasons. Established with the Yaitsk troops on [?] 1773 (RGVIA, fond 653, ff. 95v-96). The Skvorkins later served as officers in the Ural Cossack regiments in the 19th century. Michel Brodsky Collection - lots from 92 to 154 [Russian art]