Lot Essay
Dr. John Martin Crawford (1845-1916), to whom this service was presented in 1893, was a medical doctor, translator of the Finnish national epic, Kalevala, and in 1889, according to his commission from President Harrison, was named U.S. consul-general to Russia, where he served until 1894.
As consul-general, Dr. Crawford won the gratitude and respect of the Tsar for his assistance to the Russian people during the famine of 1892. In addition to publicizing the famine both in Russia and in the United States, Dr. Crawford presented to the Russian Government two ship-loads of flour transported by the U.S. ships Indiana and Missouri for distribution at the sticken war-port of Libau.
The following year, Dr. Crawford acted as liaison between Russia and the organizers of the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. He also edited and translated into English the five volume Industies of Russia to be published in conjunction with the exposition. Well disposed towards the United States in the wake of the famine relief supplied with Dr. Crawford's helf the previous year, Russia contributed an exceptionally lavish and comprehensive exhibit to the exposition.
Shortly before his departure from Russia, Dr. Crawford was visited by a Chamberlain of the Tsar's household, who presented him with the silver service on the Tsar's behalf, a rare honor. A journalist viewing the service in Dr. Crawford's home reported in the Cincinnati Tribune of July 8th, 1895 that "the sight was one to dazzle a person. The first box contained a samavar [sic] of solid silver with all the pieces of service which make up the Russian Tea serving set. . . . On one side is the coat of arms of the Emperor, the double eagle, and on the other side are the initials JMC in the form of a monogram. The double eagle is inclosed in a wreath but the initials are not, as the work on the samavar was not quite completed when the officials learned that the doctor was about to leave the next day, and it was impossible to finish it. On all the other pieces, however, the double eagle is on one side and the initials are on the other, each inclosed in a wreath." The journalist observed that the presentation of the service was, "a fitting climax to the official career of one who had been an honor to his country, who had won the entire confidence of the Russian authorities, and done more to establish a friendly feeling between the two great countries than any American who [had] gone there."
As consul-general, Dr. Crawford won the gratitude and respect of the Tsar for his assistance to the Russian people during the famine of 1892. In addition to publicizing the famine both in Russia and in the United States, Dr. Crawford presented to the Russian Government two ship-loads of flour transported by the U.S. ships Indiana and Missouri for distribution at the sticken war-port of Libau.
The following year, Dr. Crawford acted as liaison between Russia and the organizers of the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. He also edited and translated into English the five volume Industies of Russia to be published in conjunction with the exposition. Well disposed towards the United States in the wake of the famine relief supplied with Dr. Crawford's helf the previous year, Russia contributed an exceptionally lavish and comprehensive exhibit to the exposition.
Shortly before his departure from Russia, Dr. Crawford was visited by a Chamberlain of the Tsar's household, who presented him with the silver service on the Tsar's behalf, a rare honor. A journalist viewing the service in Dr. Crawford's home reported in the Cincinnati Tribune of July 8th, 1895 that "the sight was one to dazzle a person. The first box contained a samavar [sic] of solid silver with all the pieces of service which make up the Russian Tea serving set. . . . On one side is the coat of arms of the Emperor, the double eagle, and on the other side are the initials JMC in the form of a monogram. The double eagle is inclosed in a wreath but the initials are not, as the work on the samavar was not quite completed when the officials learned that the doctor was about to leave the next day, and it was impossible to finish it. On all the other pieces, however, the double eagle is on one side and the initials are on the other, each inclosed in a wreath." The journalist observed that the presentation of the service was, "a fitting climax to the official career of one who had been an honor to his country, who had won the entire confidence of the Russian authorities, and done more to establish a friendly feeling between the two great countries than any American who [had] gone there."