Jewelry art was already highly developed in ancient Russia, but it was not until the 18th century and the reign of Peter I that it became part of the larger European tradition, a transition that led to the appearance in Russia of such new objects as snuffboxes, goblets and tableware sets executed in the latest European styles.
These silver tureens were made in the latter half of the 18th century on commission to Empress Catherine II, an active patron of jewelry art. The tureens were intended as presents for officers in the Page Corps and are decorated with ornaments characteristic of the time: floral garlands, waves and swirls. The handles on the lid are made to look like military regalia, with the helmets, shields and weapons serving to remind the viewer that these objects belonged to military officers.
The Page Corps was an elite military academy in Imperial Russia, existing in St. Petersburg from 1802 to 1918. While initially open to children from noble families, during the reign of Catherine II its intake was limited to the offspring of nobles who had gained renown for their services to Russia.