Tea Cup Holder

c. 1908–1917

Tea Cup Holder, c. 1908–1917. House of Fabergé (Russian, 1842–1918). Silver; handle: 7.6 cm (3 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of the Hiller-Borneman Collection 2021.156.a This holder and its glass are likely from a larger set. It is an excellent example of Fabergé’s ability to imbue objects of everyday use with exceptional artistry. The holder features elegant scroll motifs forming two horizontal bands and a handle, an ingenious take on the French ornamental style of the mid-eighteenth century. In Russia, tea has been served in glasses since the eighteenth century.