This set of silver drinking vessels shaped like water troughs for horses harks back to the traditional meeting places of Russian military officers. Such "clubs" were present in every regiment. All of the regiment's informal events would be held there, and were often accompanied by officially-sanctioned drinking. Many of them would have their own bratiny and charki, traditional Slavic punchbowls and drinking vessels, respectively, as well as ladles and other punch accessories, all of which were works of art in their own right. These sets were often given to regiments as gifts in honor of the Russian Emperor's birthday. The regiments would in turn offer the monarchs various objects decorated with their own heraldry.
Judging by the ranks and last names engraved on the vessels, as well as by their unusual shape, they clearly belonged to officers in the Cavalry Guard. Among their owners were many servicemen in the Russian Army who would go on to attain great renown during World War I, but who at the time these vessels were made were young cavalry guardsmen just starting their careers. These included Huseyn Khan Nakhchivansky (later General-Adjutant), Alexander Apollinarievich Krasovsky (later Lieutenant General), Sergei Mikhailovich Molostvov and others.