‘

Shared brotherhood makes drinking sweeter and sorrow lighter’
folk wisdom

The word ‘bratina’ (Russian loving cup) is not just an ancient vessel, it is a cultural code that embodies the history of Russian traditions, hospitality and brotherhood. The grace cup, which has been raised at feasts since time immemorial, was called a bratina in Russia. Filled with wine, it was passed around the table from neighbour to neighbour, uniting everyone seated at the table in a single brotherhood. The origin of the word is straightforward and transparent. Bratina literally means ‘vessel for brotherhood’ or ‘vessel for brothers.’ In other words, the name reflected the main function of the item – the collective, shared consumption of a beverage, which symbolised the unity, equality, and friendship of all participants in the feast.

Bratina resembles small spherical pots; it inherited this shape from ancient ceramic tableware used by Slavs in everyday life and during ritual ceremonies.
For centuries, craftsmen kept the shape of bratina almost unchanged, but sought to diversify the external decoration of these vessels. As a rule, inscriptions were placed on the rim of bratina: the name of the owner, instructions on how to drink wine, or folk wisdom.

Historians and archaeologists date the appearance of bratina in Russia to the 10^th century. The oldest archaeological finds of bratina, mainly in the territory of Ancient Novgorod, date back to this period. These were, of course, wooden bratinas.
In the 11^th-13^th centuries, bratina became a common household item in the cities of North-Eastern Russia.
Thus, bratina was a household attribute as early as the Kievan Rus epoch, before the Mongol invasion. It developed as a distinctive type of vessel specifically in ancient Russian culture.

The 10^th-14^th centuries became the ‘golden age’ of wooden bratina as an everyday household vessel for drinking in a circle. From the 14^th-15^th centuries, bratina was becoming ‘elitist’. Expensive metal (silver and gold) bratinas appeared for the nobility and the royal court, which became luxury items or honourable awards.

The tradition of using a bratina has always been deeply symbolic. First and foremost, the bratina was a symbol of equality – a ‘circular cup’. It was filled with beer, honey or wine and passed around the table. Each of those present, from the host to the common guest, drank from it in turn. This emphasised that all those sitting at the table were brothers.
The bratina was not intended for individual use. It was brought out for common meals and feasts, community celebrations and weddings.
In addition, bratina was an essential attribute of the hospitality ritual. An honoured guest was greeted with bread with salt and bratina, which was a sign of respect.

Over time, bratina became the prototype of a grace cup. During good cheers, it was passed around the table, and everyone made a wish.
In the 14^th-16^th centuries, bratina became a valuable item that was given as a reward for service (as were ladles).
In the 17^th century, gold and silver bratinas were an integral part of the tableware used by tsars and boyars. They were richly decorated with embossing, blackening and enamels
During the reign of Peter I, with the spread of European customs, individual tableware (glasses, shot glasses) and new beverages (tea and coffee), the tradition of using bratina began to fade. It became an expensive rarity or a tabernacle in churches.
The large number of bratinas that have survived to this day indicates that they were widely used in everyday life of Russian people. However, by the end of the 17^th century, they began to fall out of use, becoming decorative items or being presented as awards.
In the 19^th century, the traditions of ancient Russian and folk art were reviving in decorative arts, including the form and decoration of utensils inspired by ancient Russian bratinas. Jewellers began to create items that imitated ancient Russian utensils. Ornamental motifs and painted enamels with traditional Russian patterns were used to decorate these items created in the form of ancient bratinas.

Nowadays, bratinas are used as decorative items or souvenirs, reminding us of the rich traditions of the Russian people.
The museum Collection exposition features a variety of items made in the shape of bratinas. An album with the images of bratina-shaped items presented the in the Decorative Arts section, is posted in the museum Photo Gallery.

A bratina is much more than just a kitchen utensil. The word conveys the idea of brotherhood; it is a valuable artefact that reflects the social traditions and craftsmanship of Ancient Rus and the Moscow Tsardom.
In addition, the bratina is a symbol of community, equality and generous Russian hospitality.

On the cover: Jorum in the shape of bratina with pouring spoon. Nakhim Kagan workshop, gold and silverware master Johan Ferdinand Olsonius, Grachev brothers factory. Russia, St. Petersburg. 1880-1890s