with Emperor Peter I (the Great) depicted standing, wearing a mantle over his cut-away jacket with the star and sash of the Order of St. Andrew, crowned with a laurel wreath, with one hand he steadies a stylized rudder, recalling his role as founder of the Russian Navy and his guidance of the ship of state, and with the other gestures to an open book symbolizing advancement of knowledge resting on a draped plinth; the entire composition set on fluted gilded silver column, the upper rim chased with a ribbon-tied band of laurel, the lower with stylized acanthus leaves, the front of the column applied with the Russian Imperial State Seal against banners, the reverse with a shield draped with ribbon-tied laurel, engraved in Cyrillic "The Yacht Georgian / F.K. Berd / 24 June 1856," the plinth struck on the reverse edge with Latin initials J.V., 84 standard, and Vaillant engraved in Latin letters, the edge of the mantle with Latin initials J.V., Vaillant, and 84 standard, the edge of the drapery with Latin initials J.V., 84 standard

Impressive; very large and heavy (weighed without the wood insert to the base), with very good detail. Has not been overcleaned but the piece would benefit from having the traces of old silver polish removed. The original screws and construction are still present. Please inquire with the department for additional photos.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

This magnificent silver trophy was awarded to F.K. Berd by the St. Petersburg Imperial Yacht Club for victory in the club’s June 1856 100-mile race. Made from almost 6 kilos (13 lbs.) of silver by one of the most esteemed silversmiths of the period, it was a fitting prize for the owner of the yacht that bested even Emperor Alexander II's yacht Queen Victoria and the Heir Apparent’s Niksa (fig. 1). 

The Imperial Yacht Club was Russia’s most elite and exclusive private club. Founded in 1841, membership was limited to 125; those not a member of the Imperial family had to be a nobleman whose sailing yacht displaced at least 20 tons. When the Club held Russia’s first regatta in 1847, Jean-Baptiste Vaillant created the trophy. Vaillant had established himself as a leading St. Petersburg silversmith after arriving in 1842. His skill in producing figural silver led to Imperial commissions requiring the skill of a talented sculptor as well as silversmith. As the press noted (fig. 2), the Club paid 1,000 silver rubles (worth 3 times as much as paper rubles), an astonishing sum nevertheless worthy of the nation’s most elite private club.

Yachts in the period often doubled as military vessels and the biannual races allowed naval officers to test new strategies. Many foreign navies sent representatives as observers. The winner of this trophy, F.K. Berd (Francis Baird, 1802-1864), was intimately connected to the development of Russian naval power and yachting. Empress Catherine II had invited Berd’s father Karl (Charles Baird, 1766-1843) to Russia as a shipbuilder. The elder Berd opened a steam engine factory and launched Russia’s first steamship in 1815. At the time of his death F.K. Berd was working on the power plant for Russia’s first steam powered frigate.