Jam (Varenye) Sifter

1887–96

Jam (Varenye) Sifter, 1887–96. Attributed to Feodor Ivanovich Rückert (Russian, 1840–1917), House of Fabergé (Russian, 1842–1918). Silver gilt, opaque cloisonné enamel; overall: 17.5 x 5.8 cm (6 7/8 x 2 5/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, The India Early Minshall Collection 1966.500.9 This sifter, which accompanies the little basket in this tea set, is a particularly Russian component of this service meant to strain the fruit preserved in a sweet juice, called varenye. At Russian tea, varenye was strained and served over cakes or biscuits in a similar way that the English take jam with scones at high tea. This jam (varenye) sifter is part of a larger tea service.