This large and impressive tankard was among a group of well-documented gifts presented to President Émile Loubet and his suite during the French State Visit to Russia in 1902. It was given to Maurice Depret (1863-1933), Second Secretary of the French Embassy in St Petersburg, and is recorded on a Fabergé invoice among items supplied to the Imperial Cabinet, with a listed cost of 385 roubles.

An extensive register of gifts presented to President Loubet and his suite survives in the state archives, where the present tankard appears as that given to Depret at the same recorded value.

Throughout the reign of Emperor Nicholas II, state visits by French officials carried particular diplomatic significance, reflecting the importance of the Franco-Russian alliance. President Loubet’s visit, which took place from 14 to 27 May 1902, was marked by the presentation of numerous traditional gifts, including kovshes, bratinas and tankards such as this example.

For more information, see U. Tillander-Godenhielm, The Russian Imperial Award System, 1894-1917, Helsinki, 2005, pp. 468-470.

We are grateful to Dmitry Krivoshey for his assistance with the research of the present lot.