Romanian Collections - Samovars And Tea Pots

Romfilatelia and Poșta Română introduce into circulation on Wednesday, November 5th this year, a postage stamp issue under the generic title Romanian Collections, with the topic Samovars and tea pots which adds to the images of postage stamps from previous years an original theme dedicated to samovars and tea pots. The issue includes six postage stamps, a perforated souvenir sheet, and two First Day Covers.

It is difficult to say who made the first samovar. Most people associate it with the city of Tula, where the Lisitsyn brothers established the first factory in 1778.

In Romania, the samovar was used in the Dobruja region, especially in Tulcea. Initially, samovars were made entirely by hand, and the production cost was very high. Therefore, having a samovar in one’s home reflected the owners’ financial status.

The Romans and Greeks used similar devices as early as Antiquity. It is possible that the first samovars were derived from the charcoal heaters used by Asian nomads. Later on, electric models also appeared which became widely used in restaurants because they boiled water much faster.

Even though the samovar is no longer as popular today, it still holds a place of honour in many people’s homes.

The fascinating history of the tea pot begins in China, during the Yuan dynasty (13th - 14th centuries). Tea pots are essential vessels for preparing and serving tea, and they vary in shape, material, and functionality, influencing not only the taste but also the ritual of preparing the beverage. In Europe, tea pots appeared much later, at the end of the 17th century, along with the import of tea from China.

The issue features traditional 18th – 20th century objects dedicated to tea preparation.

The samovar from 19th century, illustrated on the postage stamp with the face value of Lei 3, is made of gilded bronze, with the classic urn shape. It dates from the 19th century and was used both in aristocratic households and by the middle class. Based on its distinctive design and decorative elements, the samovar appears to have been made by the Alenchikov and Zimin workshop, one of the most prestigious samovar manufacturers in Tula. This samovar is an excellent example of the craftsmanship of Tula’s artisans, particularly of the high standards maintained by the Alenchikov and Zimin manufactory.

The samovar from England – 19th century, reproduced on the postage stamp with the face value of Lei 6,50, is a tea samovar made of red copper with brass accents, manufactured in England at the beginning of the 1800s. It has a spherical shape, characteristic of the English style and was used to heat water for tea. It was produced during the Regency period, when King George III was unfit to rule and his son governed as Prince Regent. This type of samovar was used in middle- and upper-class homes, representing a symbol of refinement and good taste in British tea culture.

The samovar from Germany – 20th century, depicted on the postage stamp with the face value of Lei 7, produced in 1910 by Neues Münchner Kunstgewerbe, an important arts and crafts manufactory in Munich, specialising in the production of decorative metal objects such as vessels, lamps, clocks, and, of course, samovars. The emblem on the samovar indicates that it was made during the period when the Jugendstil style (the German counterpart of Art Nouveau) was in vogue. This explains its unusual octagonal shape, typical of modernist German design and distinct from the traditional urn form.

The samovar from England – 19th century, reproduced on the postage stamp with the face value of Lei 8, is made of Copper, manufactured in England in the mid-19th century. This samovar has the classic ‘tea urn’ shape, but its internal construction is that of a functional samovar. It is crafted in an ornamental style, with a rounded and bulging body; the side handles are embossed in a decorative style, and the elegant base features ornamental feet. Inside, the stove wall is conical, although the typical shape is cylindrical.

The samovar from Morocco – 19th century, presented on the postage stamp with the face value of Lei 9, is a large tea pot, made of silver-plated alpaca, with a burner composed of two pieces: the tea container and the burner. The tea pot’s lid bears the symbol of the Steel Crown of the Romanian kings. The Steel Crown represents Romania’s royal crown, which was cast from the barrel of a Turkish cannon captured during the War of Independence in 1877–1878, at the Battle of Plevna on August 30th, 1877.

A very old tradition in Morocco involves the ritual of ‘hand washing’ performed before each meal, and nothing does the job better than an alpaca tea pot made in Morocco. The tea pot is filled with warm water, usually scented with rose or orange, and poured over the guests’ hands for a cleaner, fresher sensation.

The samovar from England – 19th century, presented on the postage stamp with the face value of Lei 25, is made in the 19th century during the Regency period, crafted from brass. The piece features elaborate decorative elements typical of the Regency era: a lid with a floral finish and a rim adorned with acanthus leaves.

Samovars like this one were used to heat and serve water for tea and were both functional and decorative objects, reflecting the owner’s status and refinement.

The samovar from Morocco – 20th century is depicted on the perforated souvenir sheet having the postage stamp with the face value of Lei 30, made in the 20th century from nickel-plated brass. The body of the samovar is shaped like a vase with a tall neck. The surface is smooth, with embossed geometric patterns. The handles consist of paired plates curved upwards. The lid is convex, with a smooth, tall finial, decorated with traditional Moroccan elements. The neck is tall, featuring two tiers of blowing. The base is round, and the feet are stylised, with the junction between the feet and the base shaped like wings. At the bottom, there is a stamped inscription: ‘Fabriqué au Maroc V’. The finishes and elaborate decorations are characteristic of Moroccan craftsmanship, renowned for its attention to detail and preference for richly ornate designs.