Stiletto (part of a set)
The firm of Nicholls & Plincke was founded by members of the relatively large community of English silversmiths and craftsmen working in Saint Petersburg. After 1840 it was one of the most important retailers of luxury items before Carl Fabergé overshadowed all competitors. Several contemporary Saint Petersburg newspapers praised the high-quality products of the magasin anglais Nicholls & Plincke.
According to the donor's family tradition, this rare set with more than fifty items bearing the monogram CMI was "originally made for and used by Colin Macrae Ingersoll [1819–1903], when he accompanied his father, Ralph Isaacs Ingersoll [1788–1872], to the Court of Czar Alexander II of Russia, where the latter served President [James Knox] Polk [1795–1849] as Minister Plenipotentiary from 1846 to 1848. . . . The family story has always been that [the set and case were] made for stagecoach travel in Russia."
Plain silver objects—like the ewer and the cup of this set—with simple outlines and restrained forms inspired silversmiths of the modern era. Only the elaborate cartouche framing the monogram indicates that the set was made in the early Victorian period.
According to the donor's family tradition, this rare set with more than fifty items bearing the monogram CMI was "originally made for and used by Colin Macrae Ingersoll [1819–1903], when he accompanied his father, Ralph Isaacs Ingersoll [1788–1872], to the Court of Czar Alexander II of Russia, where the latter served President [James Knox] Polk [1795–1849] as Minister Plenipotentiary from 1846 to 1848. . . . The family story has always been that [the set and case were] made for stagecoach travel in Russia."
Plain silver objects—like the ewer and the cup of this set—with simple outlines and restrained forms inspired silversmiths of the modern era. Only the elaborate cartouche framing the monogram indicates that the set was made in the early Victorian period.
Artwork Details
- Title: Stiletto (part of a set)
- Date: 1848–49
- Culture: Russian
- Medium: Steel, ivory, silver
- Dimensions: Overall: 4 3/4 × 3/8 × 5/8 in. (12.1 × 1 × 1.6 cm)
- Classification: Metalwork-Silver In Combination
- Credit Line: Gift of Ralph McAllister Ingersoll, 1968
- Object Number: 68.33.38
- Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
On loan to The Met
Multiple artists/makers
1893
On loan to The Met
Multiple artists/makers
before 1899
On loan to The Met
House of Carl Fabergé
August Wilhelm Holmström
1896
On loan to The Met
House of Carl Fabergé
Mikhail Evlampievich Perkhin
before 1899
On loan to The Met
Multiple artists/makers
1890
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.