Russian tea in the works of classic literature. Invitation to tea The evening samovar hissed brilliantly on the table

It was getting dark; shining on the table
The evening samovar hissed,
Chinese teapot heating;
Light steam swirled beneath him.
Spilled by Olga's hand,
Through the cups with a dark stream
Already the fragrant tea was running,
And the boy served cream...

A drink for all ailments...

Actually, what does tea have to do with it? Yes, despite the fact that drinking tea is the easiest and most enjoyable way to heal the body. Tea contains 300(!) chemicals and compounds: essential oils, organic acids, pectins and almost all vitamins found in nature. There are over 2000 types of tea known in the world and the same number of ways to prepare it. Each nation has its own tea drinking rituals, customs, traditions, habits and eccentricities. And these habits, so respected by some, seem like quirks to others, uninitiated or unable to understand “such eccentricities.” We can talk about Japanese, English, Russian tea drinking culture. But did you know that tea is widely used not only as a drink. For example, fresh leaf juice, extract, and dry tea powder are used as a medicinal agent to treat burns, external and internal ulcers, and to stop vomiting. In the pharmaceutical industry, tea serves as a raw material for the production of caffeine, and vitamin P is extracted from rough tea leaves. Particularly severe cases of hemorrhage and radiation sickness are treated with a sterile preparation of vitamin P from tea. Tea extracts are used in pharmacology as a hypnotic and analgesic, replacing morphine, but without causing side effects.

Basic conditions for preparing tea...

Water for tea should be boiled in containers used only for this purpose.
- Chlorinated water should be left for 12-20 hours in a separate container.
- Under no circumstances should tea be boiled, otherwise it will lose its smell and taste.
- The tea leaves are always prepared for one time only. On average, 20 g of dry tea is taken per liter of boiled water for brewing.
- To brew tea, use a faience, porcelain or glass teapot.
- The tea is poured into a damp, warm teapot, left there for a few minutes to swell, then poured with boiling water, covered with a lid and allowed to brew.

Tea table

It is set similarly to a coffee one, the only difference is in the choice of dishes and individual details. Tea is served in tea cups or glasses with coasters, which are placed on saucers. Both of them are placed so that the handles are to the right of the person sitting, the teaspoon is also placed on the saucer with the handle to the right. Dishes for tea are arranged in the same way as for coffee, only next to the tea cup behind the plate under the cake there is a socket for jam. Pour tea into cups, but do not fill them to the brim. The tea level should be one and a half centimeters below the edge of the cup. For tea, lump sugar is served (for tea with lemon, granulated sugar), jam or honey, sandwiches, pies, muffins, cakes and pastries.

From the history of tea...

Did you know that tea is almost 5000 years old? An ancient Chinese poet from the Tang Dynasty said this about tea: “The first cup moistens my lips and throat, the second destroys loneliness, the third explores my insides, the fourth causes a slight perspiration, all the sorrows of life disappear through the mountains, with the fifth cup I feel cleansed, the sixth lifts me into the realm of immortality, the seventh... But I can’t do it anymore. I only feel the breath of the cool wind that rises in my hands.”(meaning tea brewed in small, shallow Chinese cups). People tried the first cup of tea in 2737 BC. When the Chinese Emperor Chen Nun was boiling water for drinking, several dry leaves fell into the cauldron from a bush standing next to the fireplace. One of the courtiers tried the yellowed water and was delighted with its taste: this is how people became acquainted with tea. News of an unusual drink with a stimulating effect first appeared in Europe in the 16th century. But then people were not yet very well acquainted with the methods of its preparation. It is no coincidence that at a dinner with one English duke, a salad of tea leaves was served. He was, of course, terribly bitter. The eminent guests made faces, but, for reasons of etiquette, they ate... And then many began to have palpitations. There was almost a penance for tea. Many more years passed before Europeans learned to drink diluted tea infusion. Three hundred years ago tea appeared in Rus'. It was brought to Russia by the boyar's son Vasily Starkov as a gift from the Altyn khan to Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich.

Tea evening in English...

The English tea ceremony is widely known. In England it is customary to drink tea at 17:00. After lunch tea drinking at a strictly defined time among Europeans is a traditional form of family and friendly meetings.
Traditions of English tea drinking
In England, tea drinking culture plays about the same role as the samurai code in Japan. Tea accompanies an Englishman throughout his life; it is invariably present in every English home and office. Wherever you find yourself - in a restaurant or at a serious business meeting - you will always be offered several types of tea to choose from. This is a mandatory rule, sanctified by tradition, because in British society the daily routine is built from tea drinking to tea drinking, and for any time, for any mood, there is its own tea variety. And the British are very attentive to the mood of their business partners and will never allow themselves to make a choice for you. It is difficult to imagine that there was a time when the British did not know the taste of tea. Since the East India Company merchants presented King Charles II with two pounds of dry “Chinese leaf” as a gift in 1664, the British have fully appreciated its tart taste, pleasant aroma and universal healing properties. Sir William Gladstone, famous for his precise aphorisms, noted at one time: “If it’s cold, tea will warm you up. If you’re hot, it will cool you down. If you’re in a depressed mood, it will cheer you up; if you’re excited, it will calm you down.” But the main secret of the success of the “Chinese leaf”, which conquered England, lies in the character of the British themselves. This neat business nation, prone to a calm regularity of life, quickly discovered that the new drink has another wonderful property: with its help you can clearly organize and plan every day. The ancient drink has become part of the unchanging daily routine, according to which good old England lives from morning to evening. The British themselves joke: “it’s easier to imagine Britain without the Queen than without tea,” and this joke is not such a big exaggeration. The average Englishman drinks at least six cups of tea a day. Morning, the earliest tea, is drunk around six o'clock in the morning, sometimes right in bed. Tea is then served around eight, during the first light breakfast. The British prefer a drink at this time, which is called “English Breakfast”. It is dominated by twisted “broken” leaves, which give an excellently strong invigorating infusion that can awaken even the sleepiest person. A little later, at eleven or twelve, it is time for “lunch” - a “second”, more hearty breakfast, which, naturally, cannot be done without tea. The fourth time the British drink tea is already in the middle of the working day, taking a short break, which is called “tea break”. Whatever happens, at five o'clock in the evening, on the famous "five-o" clock, millions of Britons, from the humble employee to the Queen herself, drink English Afternoon tea, generously flavored with milk or cream. work is the time for “high tea”, a thick and aromatic aristocratic drink such as Earl Gray. It brings comfort and good mood to the house. But there is classic tea that can be drunk at any time of the day. This is “English tea No. 1”, according to the unanimous opinion of experts, an almost perfectly balanced tea mixture. It contains more than a dozen of the best varieties of tea leaves from Ceylon, India and Kenya: twisted “broken” leaves, which give strength, and delicate “orange” top leaves. peko" for a rich color and taste and a light aroma of bergamot oils. It is bergamot that makes "English tea No. 1" both strong and soft. It is best to drink tea freshly brewed, since the substances that give the drink a wonderful aroma and color are very volatile and when repeated evaporate when heated. So only those who are accustomed to drinking it immediately after brewing will know the true taste of the drink. It’s scary to imagine how difficult it would be for a modern business person with his eternal lack of time if the problem had not been solved a century ago. One day, American businessman Thomas Sullivan began sending tea to his customers in silk bags to save on tin cans, which were always in short supply. And one of the sellers suddenly came up with the idea of brewing tea directly in bags. This is how the history of “tea bags” began - tea bags, without which it is impossible to imagine a modern office.

Moscow tea party

The ancient Moscow tradition of tea drinking is so rooted that it has become part of the proverbs and sayings: “there is no harm in tea,” “If you don’t drink tea, you can’t live like that in the world,” “Drink tea and you’ll forget the melancholy,” and many others. Muscovites were even teased with tea bread. Unlike prim St. Petersburg, where they “drank coffee,” in Moscow they “drank tea” from morning to evening. Tea has become a truly Moscow drink. In 1896 On Myasnitskaya, by order of the wealthy tea merchant S.V. Perlov, the Tea-Coffee store was built. Muscovites nicknamed this beautiful Chinese-style house "Perlov's House" and came here from all over the capital especially for their favorite type of tea, and they still do. Real tea, according to Muscovites, should be very hot, of a good quality and always strong, thick, it should run “through the cup like a dark stream.” And it is better to drink tea not as a snack, but as a bite, so as not to interrupt its real taste with sugar. Cordiality and simplicity are a characteristic feature of Moscow tea drinking. It was considered indecent if, having invited a guest into the house, he was not given tea.

Invitation to tea

In 1881 The book “Good Form” was published, which has a special section on tea. It describes in detail how to organize a tea party. Tea, it says, is an open tea party with the invitation of guests. Moreover, there should be less than 25 guests - otherwise it will be called evening. Well-known people are invited to tea and will enjoy spending time in each other’s company. When going to tea, you shouldn’t dress like you’re going to a ball. Toilets are worn on weekends, but modest. The tea table is set in advance with baskets of different types of cookies, plates of sandwiches, sweet pies and pastries. Lemons, cut into thin slices, are placed throughout the table. Guest utensils include small plates and napkins. Decanters of rum and cognac are placed next to the host's plate. And, of course, there should be a samovar on the tea table. It is placed at the end of the table, where the hostess will sit. A tray with cups and glasses is placed nearby. The hostess or her eldest daughter pours tea. It is the responsibility of the hostess to offer guests cream, cookies, etc. Guests are not supposed to be capricious - demand stronger or sweeter tea. Pouring tea into a saucer or blowing on it to cool it is positively indecent. After tea, sweets and fruits are served.

CHAPTER THREE

Elle etait fille, elle etait amoureuse.

Malfilatre

She was a girl, she was in love.

Malfilatr(French)

"Where? These are poets for me!”
- Goodbye, Onegin, I have to go.
"I do not hold you; but where are you
Are you spending your evenings?
- At the Larins. - “This is wonderful.
Have mercy! and it's not difficult for you
Kill there every evening?”
- Not at all. - “I can’t understand.
Now I see what it is:
First of all (listen, am I right?),
A simple Russian family,
There is great zeal for guests,
Jam, eternal conversation
About the rain, about the flax, about the barnyard..."

I don’t see any trouble here yet.
“Yes, boredom, that’s the problem, my friend.”
- I hate your fashionable world;
My home circle is dearer to me,
Where can I... - “An eclogue again!
Yes, that's enough, honey, for God's sake.
Well? you're going: it's a pity.
Oh, listen, Lensky; yes it is impossible
I want to see this Phyllida,
The subject of both thoughts and pen,
And tears, and rhymes et cetera?..
Introduce me." - Are you kidding. - "No."
- I'm glad. - “When?” - Right now.
They will gladly accept us.

Let's go.-
Others galloped
Appeared; they are lavished
Sometimes difficult services
Hospitable old times.
Ritual of famous treats:
They carry jam on saucers,
They put a waxed one on the table
Jug with lingonberry water.
………………………………
………………………………
………………………………

They are dear to the shortest
They fly home at full speed.
Now let's eavesdrop
Our heroes conversation:
- Well, Onegin? you are yawning.-
“Habit, Lensky.” - But you miss
You’re somehow bigger.” “No, equal.
However, it is already dark in the field;
Hurry! go, go, Andryushka!
What stupid places!
By the way: Larina is simple,
But a very sweet old lady;
I'm afraid: lingonberry water
It wouldn't harm me.

Tell me: which one is Tatyana?”
- Yes, the one who is sad
And silent, like Svetlana,
She came in and sat down by the window.-
“Are you really in love with the smaller one?”
- And what? - “I would choose another,
If only I were like you, a poet.
Olga has no life in her features.
Exactly in Vandik's Madona:
She's round and red-faced,
Like this stupid moon
On this stupid horizon."
Vladimir answered dryly
And then he was silent the whole way.

Meanwhile, Onegin's phenomenon
The Larins produced
Everyone is very impressed
And all the neighbors were entertained.
Guess after guess went on.
Everyone began to interpret furtively,
It is not without sin to joke and judge,
Tatiana predicts a groom;
Others even claimed
That the wedding is completely coordinated,
But then stopped
That they didn’t get any fashionable rings.
About Lensky's wedding for a long time
They had already decided.

Tatyana listened with annoyance
Such gossip; but secretly
With inexplicable joy
I couldn’t help but think about it;
And a thought sank into my heart;
The time has come, she fell in love.
So the grain fell into the ground
Spring is animated by fire.
Her imagination has long been
Burning with bliss and melancholy,
Hungry for fatal food;
Long-time heartache
Her young breasts were tight;
The soul was waiting... for someone,

And she waited... The eyes opened;
She said: it's him!
Alas! now both days and nights,
And a hot lonely dream,
Everything is full of it; everything to the maiden dear
Incessantly magical power
Talks about him. Annoying to her
And the sounds of gentle speeches,
And the gaze of a caring servant.
I am plunged into despondency,
She doesn't listen to guests
And curses their leisure time,
Their unexpected arrival
And a long squat.

Now with what attention she pays
Reading a sweet novel
With such living charm
Drinks seductive deception!
Happy power of dreams
Animated creatures
Lover of Julia Volmar,
Malek-Adele and de Linard,
And Werther, the rebellious martyr,
And the incomparable Grandison,
Which makes us sleep, -
Everything for the tender dreamer
They have clothed themselves in a single image,
Merged into one Onegin.

Imagining a heroine
Your beloved creators,
Clarissa, Julia, Delphine,
Tatyana in the silence of the forests
One wanders with a dangerous book,
She searches and finds in her
Your secret heat, your dreams,
The fruits of heart fullness,
Sighs and, taking it for himself
Someone else's delight, someone else's sadness,
Whispers into oblivion by heart
A letter for a dear hero...
But our hero, whoever he is,
It certainly wasn't Grandison.

Your syllable in an important mood,
Used to be a fiery creator
He showed us his hero
Like a sample of perfection.
He gave away his favorite object,
Always unjustly persecuted
Sensitive soul, mind
And an attractive face.
Feeding the heat of pure passion,
Always enthusiastic naked
I was ready to sacrifice myself
And at the end of the last part
Vice was always punished
It was a worthy wreath.

And now all minds are in the fog,
Morality makes us sleepy
Vice is kind - and in the novel,
And there the op is already triumphant.
British Muse of Tall Tales
The girl's sleep is disturbed,
And now her idol has become
Or a brooding Vampire,
Or Melmoth, the gloomy tramp,
Ile the Eternal Jew, or Corsair,
Or the mysterious Sbogar.
Lord Byron by a lucky whim
Cloaked in sad romanticism
And hopeless selfishness.

My friends, what's the point in this?
Perhaps, by the will of heaven,
I will stop being a poet
A new demon will inhabit me,
And the Phebovs, despising threats,
I will stoop to humble prose;
Then a novel in the old way
It will take my cheerful sunset.
Not the torment of secret villainy
I will portray it menacingly,
But I’ll just tell you
Traditions of the Russian family,
Love's captivating dreams
Yes, the morals of our antiquity.

I will retell simple speeches
Father or old uncle,
Children's appointments
By the old linden trees, by the stream;
Unhappy jealousy torment,
Separation, tears of reconciliation,
I'll quarrel again, and finally
I will walk them down the aisle...
I will remember the speeches of passionate bliss,
Words of yearning love
Which in days gone by
At the feet of a beautiful mistress
They came to my tongue
Which I am now unaccustomed to.

Tatiana, dear Tatiana!
With you now I shed tears;
You're in the hands of a fashionable tyrant
I've already given up my fate.
You will die, dear; but first
You are in blinding hope
You call for dark bliss,
You will know the bliss of life
You drink the magical poison of desires,
Dreams haunt you:
You imagine everywhere
Happy Date Shelters;
Everywhere, everywhere in front of you
Your tempter is fatal.

The melancholy of love drives Tatiana away,
And she goes to the garden to be sad,
And suddenly the eyes become motionless,
And she’s too lazy to move on.
The chest and cheeks rose
Covered in instant flames,
The breath froze in my mouth,
And there is noise in the ears, and a sparkle in the eyes...
Night will come; the moon goes around
Watch the distant vault of heaven,
And the nightingale in the darkness of the trees
Sonorous tunes turn you on.
Tatyana doesn't sleep in the dark
And quietly says to the nanny:

“I can’t sleep, nanny: it’s so stuffy here!
Open the window and sit with me.”
- What, Tanya, what’s wrong with you? -
"I'm bored,
Let's talk about antiquity."
- About what, Tanya? I used to
I kept quite a bit in my memory
Ancient tales, fables
About evil spirits and maidens;
And now everything is dark to me, Tanya:
What I knew, I forgot. Yes,
A bad turn has come!
It's crazy... - “Tell me, nanny,
About your old years:
Were you in love then?

And, that's it, Tanya! These summers
We haven't heard about love;
Otherwise I would have driven you away from the world
My deceased mother-in-law. -
“How did you get married, nanny?”
- So, apparently, God ordered it. My Vanya
-He was younger than me, my light,
And I was thirteen years old.
The matchmaker went around for two weeks
To my family, and finally
My father blessed me.
I cried bitterly out of fear,
They unraveled my braid while crying
Yes, they took me to church singing.

And so they brought someone else into the family...
Yes, you don’t listen to me... -
“Oh, nanny, nanny, I’m sad,
I'm sick, my dear:
I’m ready to cry, I’m ready to cry!..”
- My child, you are unwell;
Lord have mercy and save!
What do you want, ask...
Let me sprinkle you with holy water,
You’re all burning... - “I’m not sick:
I... you know, Nanny... is in love.”
- My child, God be with you! -
And the nanny girl with a prayer
She baptized with a decrepit hand.

“I’m in love,” she whispered again
She is sad for the old lady.
- Dear friend, you are unwell.
"Leave me: I'm in love."
And meanwhile the moon was shining
And illuminated with a languid light
Tatiana's pale beauties,
And loose hair,
And drops of tears, and on the bench
Before the young heroine,
With a scarf on his gray head,
An old woman in a long padded jacket;
And everything was dozing in silence
Under an inspiring moon.

And my heart ran far
Tatyana, looking at the moon...
Suddenly a thought appeared in her mind...
“Go ahead, leave me alone.
Give me a pen and paper, nanny,
Yes, move the table; I'll go to bed soon;
Sorry". And here she is alone.
Everything is quiet. The moon is shining on her.
Lean on your elbows, Tatyana writes,
And everything is Eugene on my mind,
And in a thoughtless letter
The love of an innocent maiden breathes.
The letter is ready, folded...
Tatiana! Who is it for?

I knew unattainable beauties,
Cold, clean like winter,
Relentless, incorruptible,
Incomprehensible to the mind;
I marveled at their fashionable arrogance,
Their natural virtues,
And, I admit, I ran away from them,
And I think I read it with horror
Above their eyebrows is the inscription of hell:
Give up hope forever.
Inspiring love is a problem for them,
It's their joy to scare people.
Perhaps on the banks of the Neva
You've seen ladies like this.

Among obedient fans
I've seen other eccentrics
Selfishly indifferent
For passionate sighs and praise.
And what did I find with amazement?
They, with harsh behavior
Scaring timid love
They knew how to attract her again
At least regret
At least the sound of speeches
Sometimes it seemed more tender,
And with gullible blindness
Young lover again
I ran after the sweet vanity.

Why is Tatyana more guilty?
Because in sweet simplicity
She knows no deception
And believes in his chosen dream?
Because he loves without art,
Obedient to the attraction of feeling,
Why is she so trusting?
What is gifted from heaven
With a rebellious imagination,
Alive in mind and will,
And wayward head,
And with a fiery and tender heart?
Won't you forgive her?
Are you frivolous passions?

The coquette judges in cold blood,
Tatiana loves seriously
And he surrenders unconditionally
Love like a sweet child.
She doesn’t say: let’s put it aside -
We will multiply the price of love,
Or rather, let’s start it online;
First vanity is stabbed
Hope, there is bewilderment
We'll torture our hearts, and then
We will revive the jealous with fire;
And then, bored with pleasure,
The slave is cunning from the shackles
Ready to break out at all times.

I still foresee difficulties:
Saving the honor of our native land,
I will have to, without a doubt,
Translate Tatiana's letter.
She didn't speak Russian well
I haven’t read our magazines
And it was difficult to express myself
In your native language,
So, I wrote in French...
What to do! I repeat again:
Until now, ladies' love
Didn't speak Russian
Our language is still proud
I'm not used to postal prose.

I know: they want to force the ladies
Read in Russian. Right, fear!
Can I imagine them?
With “Well-Intentioned” in your hands!
I swear at you, my poets;
Isn't it true: lovely objects,
Who, for their sins,
You wrote poems in secret,
To whom you dedicated your heart,
Isn't that all, in Russian?
Possessing weakly and with difficulty,
He was so cutely distorted
And in their mouths a foreign language
Didn't you turn to your native?

God forbid I get together at the ball
Or while driving around on the porch
With a seminarian in a yellow chalet
Or with an academician in a cap!
Like rosy lips without a smile,
No grammatical error
I don't like Russian speech.
Perhaps, for my misfortune, -
New generation of beauties,
The magazines heeded the pleading voice,
He will teach us grammar;
Poems will be put into use;
But I... why should I care?
I will be faithful to the old days.

Incorrect, careless babble,
Inaccurate pronunciation of speeches
Still heart fluttering
They will produce in my breast;
I have no strength to repent,
Gallicisms will be sweet to me,
Like the sins of past youth,
Like Bogdanovich's poems.
But it's complete. It's time for me to get busy
A letter from my beauty;
I gave my word, so what? oh-oh
Now I'm ready to give up.
I know: gentle guys
Feather is not in fashion these days.

Singer of Feasts and languid sadness,
If only you were with me,
I would become an immodest request
To disturb you, my dear:
So that magical melodies
You shifted the passionate maiden
Foreign words.
Where are you? come: your rights
I bow to you...
But among the sad rocks,
Having weaned my heart from praise,
Alone, under the Finnish sky,
He wanders, and his soul
He does not hear my grief.

Tatiana's letter is in front of me;
I cherish it sacredly,
I read with secret longing
And I can’t read enough.
Who inspired her with this tenderness,
And words of kind negligence?
Who inspired her with touching nonsense,
Crazy heart conversation
Both fascinating and harmful?
I can not understand. But here
Incomplete, weak translation,
From a living picture the list is pale
Or the pranked Freischitz
By the fingers of timid students:

TATIANA'S LETTER TO ONEGIN

I am writing to you - what more?
What more can I say?
Now I know it's in your will
Punish me with contempt.
But you, to my unfortunate fate
Keeping at least a drop of pity,
You won't leave me.
At first I wanted to remain silent;
Believe me: my shame
You would never know
If only I had hope
At least rarely, at least once a week
To see you in our village,
Just to hear your speeches,
Say your word, and then
Think about everything, think about one thing
And day and night until we meet again.
But, they say, you are unsociable;
In the wilderness, in the village, everything is boring for you,
And we... we don’t shine with anything,
Even though you are welcome in a simple-minded way.

Why did you visit us?
In the wilderness of a forgotten village
I would never have known you
I wouldn't know bitter torment.
Souls of inexperienced excitement
Having come to terms with time (who knows?),
I would find a friend after my heart,
If only I had a faithful wife
And a virtuous mother.

Another!.. No, to no one in the world
I wouldn't give my heart!
It is destined in the highest council...
That is the will of heaven: I am yours;
My whole life was a pledge
The faithful's meeting with you;
I know you were sent to me by God,
Until the grave you are my keeper...
You appeared in my dreams
Invisible, you were already dear to me,
Your wonderful gaze tormented me,
Your voice was heard in my soul
A long time ago... no, it was not a dream!
You barely walked in, I instantly recognized
Everything was stupefied, on fire
And in my thoughts I said: here he is!
Isn't it true? I heard you:
You spoke to me in silence
When I helped the poor
Or she delighted me with prayer
The longing of a worried soul?
And at this very moment,
Isn't it you, sweet vision,
Flashed in the transparent darkness, ‘
Quietly leaning against the headboard?
Isn’t it you, with joy and love,
Did you whisper words of hope to me?
Who are you, my guardian angel,
Or the insidious tempter:
Resolve my doubts.
Maybe it's all empty
Deception of an inexperienced soul!
And something completely different is destined...
But so be it! my destiny
From now on I give you
I shed tears before you,
I beg your protection...
Imagine: I'm here alone,
Nobody understands me,
My mind is exhausted
And I must die in silence.
I'm waiting for you: with one glance
Revive the hopes of your heart
Or break the heavy dream,
Alas, a well-deserved reproach!

I'm cumming! It's scary to read...
I freeze with shame and fear...
But your honor is my guarantee,
And I boldly entrust myself to her...

Tatyana will sigh, then gasp;
The letter trembles in her hand;
The pink wafer is drying
On a sore tongue.
She leaned her head towards his shoulder.
The light shirt came down
From her lovely shoulder...
But now there's a moonbeam
The glow goes out. There's a valley there
It becomes clearer through the steam. There's a flow
Silvered; there's a horn there
The shepherd wakes up the villager.
It’s morning: everyone got up a long time ago,
My Tatyana doesn't care.

She doesn't notice the dawn
Sits with drooping head
And he doesn’t press on the letter
Your seal is cut out.
But, quietly unlocking the door,
She's already gray-haired Filipyevna
He brings tea on a tray.
“It’s time, my child, get up:
Yes, you, beauty, are ready!
Oh my early bird!
I was so afraid this evening!
Yes, thank God, you are healthy!
There is no trace of nighttime melancholy,
Your face is like the color of poppies.”

Oh! nanny, do me a favor.-
“If you please, dear, give orders.”
- Don’t think... really... suspicion.
But you see... ah! don't refuse.-
“My friend, God is your guarantee.”
- So, let’s go quietly grandson
With this note to O... to that...
To the neighbor... and tell him to
So that he doesn't say a word,
So that he doesn’t call me... -
“To whom, my dear?
I've become clueless these days.
There are a lot of neighbors around;
Where can I count them?

How slow-witted you are, nanny! -
“Dear friend, I’m already old,
Stara; the mind is growing dull, Tanya;
And then, it happened, I was excited,
It happened that the word of the lord’s will..."
- Oh, nanny, nanny! before that?
What do I need in your mind?
You see, it's about the letter
To Onegin. - “Well, business, business.
Don't be angry, my soul,
You know, I’m incomprehensible...
Why are you turning pale again?”
- So, nanny, it’s really nothing.
Send your grandson.

But the day passed and there was no answer.
Another has come: everything is no different.
Pale as a shadow, dressed in the morning,
Tatyana is waiting: when will the answer be?
Olga, the admirer, has arrived.
“Tell me: where is your friend?
The hostess asked him a question.
He somehow completely forgot about us.”
Tatyana flushed and trembled.
“He promised to be today,”
Lensky answered the old lady, -
Yes, apparently the post office was delayed.-
Tatyana lowered her gaze,
As if hearing an evil reproach.

It was getting dark; on the table, shining,
The evening samovar hissed,
Chinese teapot heating;
Light steam swirled beneath him.
Spilled by Olga's hand,
Through the cups in a dark stream
Already the fragrant tea was running,
And the boy served the cream;
Tatiana stood in front of the window,
Breathing on the cold glass,
Thoughtful, my soul,
She wrote with a pretty finger
On foggy glass
Treasured monogram O yes E.

And meanwhile her soul ached,
And the languid gaze was full of tears.
Suddenly there was a stomp!.. her blood froze.
Here's closer! jump... and into the yard
Eugene! "Oh!" - and lighter than shadow
Tatyana jumped into another hallway,
From the porch to the yard, and straight into the garden,
Flying, flying; look back
He doesn't dare; ran around instantly
Curtains, bridges, meadows,
Alley to the lake, woods,
I broke the siren bushes,
Flying through the flower beds to the stream.
And, out of breath, onto the bench

Fell...
“Here he is! Evgeniy is here!
Oh my God! What did he think!
She has a heart full of torment,
A dark dream keeps hope alive;
She trembles and glows with heat,
And waits: is it coming? But he doesn't hear.
In the maid's garden, on the ridges,
Picking berries in the bushes
And they sang in chorus as ordered
(Order based on
So that the master's berries secretly
Evil lips do not eat
And they were busy singing:
An idea of rural wit!)

SONG OF GIRLS

Girls, beauties,
Darlings, girlfriends,
Play around, girls!
Have fun, darlings!

Play a song
The cherished song,
Lure the fellow
To our round dance.

How can we lure the young man?
As we see from afar,
Let's run away, darlings,
Let's throw cherries
Cherry, raspberry,
Red currants.

Don't go eavesdropping
Treasured songs,
Don't go peeking
Our games are girls' ones.

They sing, and, with carelessness
Hearing their ringing voice,
Tatyana waited impatiently,
So that the trembling of her heart subsides,
So that the glow goes away.
But in the Persians there is the same trembling,
And the heat on the cheeks does not go away,
But brighter, brighter it only burns...
That's how the poor moth shines
And beats with a rainbow wing,
Captivated by the school naughty boy;
So a bunny trembles in the winter,
Suddenly seeing from afar
Into the bushes of a fallen shooter.

But finally she sighed
And she rose from her bench;
I went, but only turned around
In the alley, right in front of her,
Shining eyes, Evgeniy
Stands like a menacing shadow,
And, as if burned by fire,
She stopped.
But the consequences of an unexpected meeting
Today, dear friends,
I am not able to retell it;
I owe it after a long speech
And take a walk and relax:
I'll finish it sometime later.

Chapters of the novel “Eugene Onegin”:

Pushkin began writing chapter 3 of “Eugene Onegin” in February 1824 in Odessa, and finished it in October of the same year. It appeared in print in 1827.

Hello dears.
Well...the time has come for us to finish with Chapter III of the immortal novel in verse. Let me remind you that last time we stopped here:
So...you and I have read the letter. What's next...

Poor Tenechka was worried, very worried. This is not surprising. Even my tongue became inflamed. He takes medicine. A wafer in this particular case is a small ball made of starch flour, gelatin, etc., hollow inside, for taking medicines in powders.

She doesn't notice the dawn
Sits with drooping head
And he doesn’t press on the letter
Your seal is cut out.
But, quietly unlocking the door,
She's already gray-haired Filipyevna
He brings tea on a tray.
"It's time, my child, get up:
Yes, you, beauty, are ready!
Oh my early bird!
I was so afraid this evening!
Yes, thank God, you are healthy!
There is no trace of nighttime melancholy,
Your face is like the color of poppies".

Well, we finally found out the nanny’s middle name :-) With the seal, I really didn’t understand. So it turns out that Tatyana had her own stamp for personal correspondence? Isn't it too early for a young lady? Although... Well, in general, I wrote a letter, but did not seal it with my own seal. Let's see what happens next :-)

- Ah! Nanny, do me a favor. -
“If you please, dear, give orders.”
- Don’t think... really... suspicion...
But you see... ah! don't refuse. --
“My friend, God is your guarantee.”
- So, let’s go quietly grandson
With this note to O... to that...
To the neighbor... and tell him -
So that he doesn't say a word,
So that he doesn't call me... -
"To whom, my dear?
I've become clueless these days.
There are a lot of neighbors around;
Where can I count them?

How slow-witted you are, nanny! -
"Dear friend, I'm old,
Old: the mind is growing dull, Tanya;
And then, it happened, I was excited,
It happened that the word of the master's will..."
- Oh, nanny, nanny! before that?
What do I need in your mind?
You see, it's about the letter
To Onegin. - “Well, business, business,
Don't be angry, my soul,
You know, I'm incomprehensible...
Why are you turning pale again?"
- So, nanny, it’s really nothing.
Send your grandson. -

The grandson acted as cupid. Well... smart, smart :-)

But the day passed and there was no answer.
Another one has arrived: everything is gone, no matter what.
Pale as a shadow, dressed in the morning,
Tatyana is waiting: when will the answer be?
Olga, the admirer, has arrived.
"Tell me: where is your friend?"
He had a question from the hostess.
“He somehow completely forgot about us.”
Tatyana flushed and trembled.
- He promised to be today,
He answered old lady Lenskaya:
Yes, apparently the post office was delayed. -
Tatyana lowered her gaze,
As if hearing an evil reproach.

Not otherwise a subtle allusion to "Russian Post" :-) Well, or the server crashed :-)))

It was getting dark; shining on the table
The evening samovar hissed.
Chinese teapot heating;
Light steam swirled beneath him.
Spilled by Olga's hand,
Through the cups in a dark stream
Already the fragrant tea was running,
And the boy served the cream;
Tatiana stood in front of the window,
Breathing on the cold glass,
Thoughtful, my soul,
She wrote with a pretty finger
On foggy glass
Treasured monogram O yes E.

I really liked the monogram. Vital :-) I wonder what it looked like. Something like this?

The system of a samovar with a kettle looked something like this:

And meanwhile her soul ached,
And the languid gaze was full of tears.
Suddenly there was a stomp!.. her blood froze.
Here's closer! they jump... and into the yard
Eugene! "Oh!" - and lighter than a shadow
Tatyana jumped into another hallway,
From the porch to the yard, and straight into the garden,
Flying, flying; look back
He doesn't dare; ran around instantly
Curtains, bridges, meadows,
Alley to the lake, woods,
I broke the siren bushes,
Flying through the flower beds to the stream,
And gasping for breath on the bench

Fell...
"Here he is! Evgeniy is here!
Oh my God! What did he think!
She has a heart full of torment,
A dark dream keeps hope alive;
She trembles and glows with heat,
And waits: is it coming? But he doesn't hear.
In the maid's garden, on the ridges,
Picking berries in the bushes
And they sang in chorus as ordered
(Order based on
So that the master's berries secretly
Evil lips do not eat,
And they were busy singing:
An idea of rural wit!)

About a song so that the berries don’t sing, I think it’s great :-))) As they say, live forever, learn forever, you’ll die a fool :-))) But let’s listen to a little folk art:

SONG OF GIRLS

Girls, beauties,
Darlings, girlfriends,
Play around, girls!
Have fun, darlings!
Play a song
The cherished song,
Lure the fellow
To our round dance.
How can we lure the young man?
As we see from afar,
Let's run away, darlings,
Let's throw cherries
Cherry, raspberry,
Red currants.
Don't go eavesdropping
Treasured songs,
Don't go peeking
Our games are girls' ones.

As they say - shower me with berries, but not melons :-)))

They sing, and with carelessness
Hearing their ringing voice,
Tatyana waited impatiently,
So that the trembling of her heart subsides,
So that the glow goes away.
But in the Persians there is the same trembling,
And the heat on the cheeks does not go away,
But brighter, brighter it only burns...
That's how the poor moth shines
And beats with a rainbow wing,
Captivated by the school naughty boy
So a bunny trembles in the winter,
Suddenly seeing from afar
Into the bushes of a fallen shooter.

Once again I remind you that cheeks are cheeks. Well, percy is breasts. Don't get confused! :-)

Well, we’ll finish with part 3 :-) But let’s continue reading this magnificent work!
To be continued...
Have a nice time of day.

What do you know about the old one?
Russian, Tula samovar?
Steam once burned in it,
In the golden, pot-bellied side
The boiling water was beating dully...
What is tea without a samovar?
Without fragrant brew,
Without boiling water,
Without carbon haze?!
S. Mikhalkov.
From the poem "Samovar".

What is a samovar? The Dictionary of the Russian Language says: “A samovar is a metal device for boiling water with a firebox inside, filled with coals.” In the Explanatory Dictionary of the Living Great Russian Language V.I. Dahl says: “A samovar is a water-heating vessel for tea, made of copper with a pipe and a brazier inside.”

Dull melancholy for no reason
And doom is a persistent frenzy.
Let's prick some splinters -
Let's blow up a samovar!
For loyalty to the ancient rank,
For living slowly!
Perhaps, and it will steam out the sadness
A soul that has taken a sip of tea!

What is the attractive power of the samovar, why it has remained the most stable attribute of home comfort, can only be understood by understanding the peculiarities of the Russian tradition - tea drinking.

It is well known that tea came to Russia from the East. This does not mean that before this Russia drank only vodka. Strong drinks were held in high esteem in Russia; its residents brewed mash and sbiten. Tea also had its own: from leaves, fruits, roots of herbs, in a huge assortment collected, dried and prepared for various purposes - medicinal and tonic.

For example, fireweed inflorescences, cherry, mint, currant leaves, etc. were used as tea leaves.

But, most importantly, the new thing that came from the East along with tea as a brew is a special ritual action, a kind of holiday. The introduction and spread of tea in Russia took place on prepared soil, and the main feature, the reason for the popularity of tea, was in the ceremony itself, however, adapted to the psychology of the Russian people.

DRINK SEA - YOU WILL FORGET MEANING.

The Eastern tea ceremony is basically aimed at deepening a person, communicating with his inner world. She seems to take him out of the everyday bustle. The methods of brewing tea and serving it on the table are preparing the ground for detachment from everything vain.

The Russian tea ceremony is aimed at obtaining the absolutely opposite effect - uniting the spiritual world of people gathered at the table, revealing each individual soul to society, family, friends, and gaining new knowledge. Tea drinking creates the conditions for intimate conversation.

GLEB SAVINOV

THE SAMOVAR IS BOILING - IT DOESN'T TELL YOU TO LEAVE.
A frank conversation directly with an interlocutor, and even more so with several interlocutors, is always psychologically difficult. This is further aggravated by the fact that, as a rule, there are several age groups at the table - from children to great-grandparents. Children are held back by the tradition of respect for adults, and their parents by honoring their parents. A careless remark, a clash of two opinions, sometimes destroys the confidentiality of the conversation, and the speaker becomes silent and withdraws into himself. To create the spirit of democracy, a certain “silent interlocutor” was needed, looking at whom, and turning to whom, one could express the most intimate things without fear of being misunderstood. This role is assigned to the samovar in Russian tea drinking.

DRINKING TEA IS NOT CUTTING WOOD.

It was getting dark. On the table, shining,
The evening samovar hissed,
Chinese teapot heating,
Light steam swirled beneath him...
(A. Pushkin)

Such an item on the table was necessary for the Russian tea ceremony. And it was invented at the turn of the 18th century by Russian masters. The samovar entered every home. The samovar has become a symbol of goodness and home comfort. Children gained knowledge, absorbed traditions, learned to speak and listen from the samovar. This item entered the classics of Russian literature and art as an indispensable attribute of family peace. He himself became an object of artistic interest, and a number of masters of decorative and applied arts took part in the creation of his decorative decoration.

His device is simple, like everything ingenious. It consists of a seamless thin-walled vessel. It is pierced vertically by a pipe, starting from the firebox below and ending with the burner. The latter serves both to install a teapot on it for brewing and to carry out air flow when the burner is closed with a lid.

The samovar differs from other devices for boiling water, known long before the appearance of the samovar and which people use now, primarily in that it combines all the practical experience of mankind in saving energy.

All the heat rising through the pipe is transferred to the surrounding water. The large pipe surface quickly brings water to a boil and maintains the temperature. The natural upward flow of warm air creates ideal draft in the firebox. The firebox is attached from below to the vessel (body) of the samovar at the required distance from the surface of the table on which the samovar is placed. This distance is adjusted by the legs of the samovar, which give it stability and fire safety.

The pipe, being a structural rod, serves as the basis for the lid of the vessel, the burner, and the lid of the pipe itself that is placed on it. Fuel is added through the pipe and the samovar is ignited. The fuel is pine cones, branches, and wood chips. Their consumption is minimal.

To pour in water, remove the lid of the vessel. To fill the glass there is a convenient tap with ground surfaces. The tap is located at some distance from the bottom of the samovar, which prevents suspension from getting into the cups.

Elements such as a tap (branch), a handle for carrying the samovar, and the legs on which it stands are made by casting and soldered to the vessel. These elements have a variety of shapes and decorative decorations. Their remoteness from the heating source preserves soldering for centuries. Samovars were used both for making tea and for preparing soup, porridge, and sbiten. In such samovars, the vessels were divided into two or three compartments and the dishes were prepared simultaneously.

Even a child can use the samovar - water is poured, fuel is added and an ignited chip is lowered into the pipe. In wet weather or with raw fuel, the samovar needs to be inflated. This is done either through holes in the walls of the firebox, or in the “peasant” way - with the help of a boot put on the pipe, which serves as a bellows in a blacksmith's forge. When the water boils, a teapot, ceramic or porcelain, is placed on the burner, depending on the taste, habit or wealth of the tea brewer. The draft slows down, and the samovar slowly brings the water to a boil, brewing tea efficiently. Tea from a samovar is usually drunk with a bite, that is, sugar is served separately.

YOU DRINK TEA AND YOU WILL LIVE TO BE A HUNDRED YEARS.

The samovar always stands in the center of the table. He is kind - in his image, in the roundness of his forms. He good-naturedly puffs on smoke and gurgles with boiling water. He reflects the people and nature around him in his sides, giving some unreality to what is happening.

WE DON'T MISS YOU AT TEA.

Emperor of white cups
Archimandrite Chaynikov,
Your deep murmur is heavy
To those who give evil to the world.
(N. Zabolotsky)

How did our great-grandfathers and great-grandmothers drink tea?

It is known that tea was first brought to Europe by the Dutch in 1610, it came to England in 1644, and in Russia it was used from the mid-18th century, initially as a medicine.

“The samovar is boiling - he doesn’t tell me to leave.” “The samovar is like the Solovetsky Sea, people drink from it for good health” - these and many other humorous sayings
They reflected the respectful and kind attitude towards the samovar that it had earned over several centuries. The ever-increasing interest in the history of the samovar as an original example of Russian decorative and applied art and Russian life, the extraordinary popularity of the samovar in our country for almost two hundred and fifty years is explained by the fact that this metal unit for heating water acquired a living “soul”, becoming the material embodiment of hospitality and cordiality, friendly communication, intimate conversations, home peace and comfort

Originally from Holland

The question arises: how did the word “samovar” appear? Some philologists claim that it has Turkic roots, and it comes from “sanabar”, which means “teapot”. This may be so, but it is quite possible that everything is simpler - this is a purely Russian combination like “steamboat” or “plane”, since in Russia they cooked not only food, but also water.

It is interesting that the device that has become a symbol of Russia is not a national invention. It, along with other wonders, was brought from Holland by Peter I.

Peter I

Classic Dutch samovar
The cold climate played a significant role in the fact that the samovar took root in Russia. To keep warm, people drank 15-20 cups of tea a day! In addition, the samovar, heating the water, also heated the room.

Like most other things, the samovar has predecessors. These are Chinese hot pots that had a pipe, but no taps, because they were used to serve soups and broths.

Hogo

As well as devices that were used in Ancient Rome for heating water and cooking food.

Roman devices for heating food (autheps and caeda)

They also had Russian relatives, for example, devices for preparing sbiten - a hot drink with honey and herbs.

Sbitnik

It's all in the pipe
The first Russian samovars, both outside and inside, resembled English vessels for boiling water and were in use in the middle of the 18th century. By the end of the century, the samovar acquired its design and functional features, which were preserved for many years. In addition to the pipe placed inside the tank and surrounded on all sides by water, the craftsmen came up with an attached pipe that was put on top and equipped the samovar with a draft. At the same time, the entire device retained its spherical shape for a long time and was quite squat.

Samovar-ball 1760

Samovar Late 19th – early 20th centuries. Tula
A samovar is not just a boiler. It is a real chemical reactor in which water softening occurs, which is important, because tea brewed in hard water is simply tasteless. The water boils, scale forms, which is deposited on the walls of the pipe and body, the main one settles to the bottom. Therefore, true masters of their craft never placed a tap at the bottom of the unit.
In order for the samovar to start heating water, it must be ignited. And this is a whole art. After pouring just a little water into a special container (just to prevent the metal from melting), they put smoldering coals into the burner, and then filled it with wood chips or cones. They put a pipe on top and fanned the coals. Water was poured into the melted samovar, and the process began. When boiling, the samovar “sang” at the first stage, made noise at the second, and seethed at the third.

The first samovar manufacturers in Russia were Ural craftsmen. Then workshops appeared in Yaroslavl, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Vologda, Kostroma. The leader among them was Tula, which rightfully received the status of “the capital of the samovar.”

The first samovar workshop was created by gunsmith Fyodor Lisitsyn, and in 1778 his sons made the first samovar. In 1803 the workshop turned into a factory.

Samovar Lisitsyn.
The Lisitsyns produced very interesting products with chasing and engraving, with intricate figured taps (for example, in the form of a dolphin), with twisted and loop-shaped handles, square and oval, barrels and vases.

Lisitsyn's samovars.

Ivan Lisitsyn's samovar of 1810 is on display at the Bukhara State Historical and Architectural Museum.

Elegant samovar with loop handles Nazar Lisitsyn adorns the collection of the Kaluga Museum of Local Lore.
Initially, samovars were made from red copper, brass and tombac (an alloy of copper with a very small addition of zinc). Sometimes they were silvered, gilded, and sometimes made of silver and cupronickel. The shape of samovars was very diverse - about 150 types were produced in Tula alone. Sketches of these products were drawn by famous artists and sculptors, hence the real works of art in the Rococo, Empire, and Art Nouveau styles.

Samovar Vorontsov (tompak)

Samovar “Vase”, 5 l. - brass, nickel, 19th century. Tula
The samovar entered and firmly established itself in all layers of Russian society - from the royal court to the peasant hut. He became not only the personification of the Russian way of life, but also a certain expression of material wealth. Thus, among the peasants, the samovar was considered a luxury, because not only were metal products quite expensive, but tea itself was not cheap.

But in the cities it was a completely different picture. Samovars were placed in taverns and inns, where they were used not only for boiling water, but also for preparing food and keeping it hot. And from the beginning of the 19th century, coffee began to be brewed in samovars.

Tavern samovar

Samovar “kitchen”.

Many “kitchen” samovars could prepare a full meal. From the inside, they were divided into compartments by walls, each compartment had a separate lid, a tap was attached to one of the compartments, and at the same time they prepared two dishes plus boiling water for tea. Of course, such miracle stoves were used only in road conditions, when they did not pay much attention to the sophistication of lunch.
You could also find similar cuisines at post stations and roadside taverns.

Coffee samovar.
The difference between a coffee samovar and an ordinary one was only in its external shape - a slightly flattened cylinder of the body and flat handles parallel to the body. The coffee samovar came with a frame with a loop into which a bag for pre-ground coffee beans was hung.

By the first half of the 19th century, a certain ritual had already formed in Russia, according to which tea was poured from a samovar by the mistress of the house or the eldest daughter. The samovar stood either on the table or on a special table nearby. If a lot of people gathered at the table, the servants poured tea in the next room and served it to the guests. Samovars made of silver or cupronickel were supplied with appropriate utensils - a teapot, a milk jug, a rinse basin, a strainer, sugar tongs and teaspoons. Women drank tea from cups, men from glasses in cup holders.

Cup holder (2nd half of the 19th century - before 1908)

Underglaze blue stamp"WITH". 1820s - 1830s.
Safronov Porcelain Factory.
It is not surprising that the samovar became one of the subjects of genre scenes depicted on the canvases of famous painters and earned many poetic lines and descriptions in Russian literature.

By the end of the 19th century, especially valued Batashev samovars, the best in quality and finish, appeared on the market, without which not a single exhibition, both in Russia and abroad, could take place. Speaking of exhibitions. Those wishing to participate had to submit several samples of their products and provide the samovars with factory marks. For the best products, manufacturers received awards, and then, to satisfy the vanity of manufacturers, samples of medals were branded on samovars.

Samovar "Faceted Vase"

Brand "Heirs of Vasily Stepanovich Batashev". With medals.
An antique coal samovar of rare "Vase" shape.

There are two medals

The inscription "On special order."
Exhibition copies, along with those made on individual orders, were incredibly valuable. They were left with memorable inscriptions, dedications, and decorated with monograms and monograms.

Giants and Lilliputians

At the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th century, a new type of samovar appeared - the kerosene one.

Kerosene samovar

Kerosene samovar
And after the events of 1917, the samovar industry practically ceased to exist.
With the NEP there was a new flourishing of the production of Tula samovars. And then there was a lull until the end of World War II. In the 1950s, all Tula samovar enterprises were united into one plant, “Stamp,” where samovars are still made to this day. Products - 28 types of products with a capacity of one and a half, two, three, five, seven and nine liters.
The largest samovar can serve tea to 2,500 people. On March 2, 2004, craftsmen from the metalwork and mechanical workshop of A.A. Pashkov (TM “Zaporozhye Samovar”) produced the largest working samovar, powered by wood and coal. This samovar was consecrated and received No. 1 and the name “Cathedral”. Eight craftsmen worked on it for three weeks. The height of the samovar is 1.75 m, weight - 250 kg, volume - 24 government buckets (295 liters). In one hour and forty minutes, its four taps can provide water to 1,475 people. This samovar has already received several awards at exhibitions and competitions.

Tula samovar from Moscow "left-hander" Nikolai Aldunin. 12 parts. Nearby is a grain of sugar.
The smallest samovar was made by Vasily Vasyurenko, a mechanic at the Institute of Radio Engineering and Electronics of the USSR Academy of Sciences. In a working samovar with a height of 3.5 millimeters you can boil... one drop of water.
There are pantry ones - giants with a capacity of 45 liters - and miniature, souvenir ones, for example, “Yasnaya Polyana” - a copy of Leo Tolstoy’s samovar, reduced by 56 times. Its capacity is only 125 milliliters, and its height is 13 centimeters.
In Soviet times, such interesting specimens were made for exhibitions as the “Friendship of Peoples” samovar, made in the shape of a vase with handles in the form of grape leaves and a convex image of the coats of arms of the union republics on the wall. Or “The Hut on Chicken Legs” with dragon-brackets. The samovar “Forest Story” depicts a fighting hunter and a bear, and the model dedicated to the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Kulikovo depicts squads of Russian soldiers.
The funds of the Tula Museum of Samovars contain a large collection of samovars from the S.F. Batashev and his heirs. Among them is the “Florentine Vase,” a collection of souvenir samovars made as a gift to the children of Nicholas II. These are small products (200 ml capacity), skillfully made in the form of a Greek vase, in the Rococo style, a mirrored and Byzantine glass, and a smooth ball.

By the way, today in Russia the fashion for samovars, especially old ones, has revived again. They are restored, put in order, collected in collections or used for their intended purpose.

There are also state samovar museums. In addition to the most famous Tula, similar ones have recently opened in Minsk, Gorodets, and Vladivostok. The Ethnographic Museum of Simferopol hosted an exhibition, the exposition of which included more than a hundred unique items from private collections, and in December last year the V world festival “St. Petersburg Samovar” took place in Russia.

The design of the samovar.
Inside there is a brazier in the form of a pipe - a “jug”. A blower is made below the “jug” to enhance traction. The tank of the samovar-vase is equipped with a rim at the top, on which the lid rests with a ring. Two “bumps” are made on the lid - grips and steamers - these are small rotary lids on the holes for steam to escape.

The body of the vase rests on a tray or legs. The “jug” (broiler) is closed with a cap on top and is equipped with a burner for installing a teapot. A faucet with a wrench is used to drain the water. Pinwheels are made in various shapes, some of them are very intricate and difficult to make.

The profiles of shaped holes (pistons) on blowers and burners are very diverse. The most important decorative elements of the entire composition were the burrs, arms and legs. The legs were made spherical, in the form of lion paws, bird legs, etc.

The great advantage of the samovar was that the fire tube in it was placed inside the tank and surrounded on all sides by water. Therefore, heat losses are small and the efficiency is very high.

Samovar makers came up with an attached pipe that can be placed on the top of the firebox. First, teapots appeared that retained the shape of spherical, squat tableware and kitchen utensils, then they were equipped with a blower and a combustion pipe without changing their previous shape.

Thanks to its shape, which enhances resonance, the samovar has the ability to emit sounds that accurately convey the state of boiling water: at the first stage the samovar “sings”, at the second it “makes noise”, at the third it “seethes”. Since the samovar heats up slowly, it is very convenient to detect the fleeting second stage of boiling by the sound.

Moreover, a samovar is not just a boiler. It is also a chemical reactor - a hard water softener, which is very important, since tea brewed in hard water is tasteless. When boiling, the hardness decreases, since the resulting insoluble carbonates (scale) are deposited on the walls of the pipe and body (body), and the main part of them settles to the bottom. However, over time, the efficiency of the reaction decreases because of this, so the scale must be removed.

It is noteworthy that samovar masters never make the tap at the very bottom, but always slightly higher, so that the settled scale does not fall into the drink being prepared.

Nikolai Pimonenko Girl with a samovar. Oryol Art Gallery.

Proverbs and sayings about the samovar

The samovar is boiling and doesn’t tell me to leave.

Come, we’ll put on the samovar, and when you leave, we’ll drink some tea.

With a brawler samovar, tea is more important and conversation is more fun.

The samovar is like the Solovetsky Sea. Let's drink from it to good health.

Sold out like a cold samovar

Our samovar has a cousin candlestick
THANK YOU! for the "plus" +++!

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