Podstakannik

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Glass Holder (nickel-plated).

Russian Kolchugino Glass Holder (silver-plated).

The podstakannik (Russian: подстаканник), or tea glass holder (literally "thing under the glass"), is a holder most commonly made of metal with a handle. Russian tea glass holder is a traditional way of serving and drinking tea in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, other CIS and ex-USSR countries.^[1] The primary purpose of podstakannik is to be able to hold the very hot glass of tea, which is usually consumed right after it is brewed.

Russian Kolchugino Glass Holder (made of sterling silver).

Expensive podstakanniks are made of silver for the richest and the elite, however they were not very practical since they would get hot very fast (see: Thermal conductivity). In Soviet Union the podstakannik were made mostly from nickel silver, cupronickel, and other alloys with nickel, silver, gold plating. There are series included architecture, famous people, famous dates in history, cities of USSR etc. Most of Russian tea glass-holders were produced by plant located in Kolchugino, Vladimir Oblast, Russia. ^[2] They give a good general survey about Russian and Soviet history.