Pot Cover
Copper with brass handles; by Fabergé, 1914
Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio

During the First World War, as Russia faced austerity and economic strain even among the aristocracy, luxury items became impractical amidst widespread suffering and loss on the front lines. Carl Fabergé, known for his opulent creations, shifted production to support the war effort by crafting munitions like shells and casings from brass and copper. Among these efforts was a small, covered soup pot, intended to carry provisions to soldiers at the front. Despite its utilitarian purpose, this pot symbolised a contradiction: designed to appear affordable, it remained a luxury reserved for wealthy families who could afford to send such comforts to their sons in wartime.