Feodor Rückert used elements of Russian traditional and contemporary art in the design of this rare and massive kovsh. He was clearly inspired by different art aspects of the 17th century Russia, and it was a very popular art in the late 19th century. Firstly, the body is decorated with stylized tulips and scrolling foliage. This is inspired by Usolsk enamels from the 17th century. Secondly, the double-headed eagle is without orb and scepter pointing at the old Russian coat of arms from before 1654 during the reighn of Zar Alexei I. Thirdly, the two figurative panels have references to two very popular, historical and monumental paintings by Konstantin Makovsky (1839–1915). They were “The Choosing of a Bride (by Tsar Aleksey I Mikhailovich)” (dated 1886) and "A Boyar Wedding Feast of the 17th Century” (dated 1883), used respectively for the two enamel motives ”Wedding Fair” and ”Honest Wedding”. Finally, the kovsh is made 1896–1908 under the rule of Nicholas II of Russia (1868–1918). Alexei I (1629–1676) was Tsar Nicholas II’s great role model and named his own son, the Tsarevich Alexei (1904–1918) after him.

Provenance: Seller's father, Anton Valentin Jørring, who lived in St. Petersburg in the 1930s and received the kovsh as a present from his employer, the Great Northern Telegraph Company. Anton Valentin Jørring returned to Denmark shortly before the outbreak of World War II.