Dish of the Empress Maria Feodorovna
Moscow, 1826
Silver, gilt
Diameter: 55,8 cm.
State Historical Museum, Moscow

At the center there is a letter "M" under an imperial crown (monogram of Empress Maria Feodorovna), in applique, and lower there is an image of a pelican, feeding his bird lings with his heart (emblem of the Department of the Empress Maria Feodorovna). On the reverse side there is an engraved inscription: "From Moscow Merchants Society. 1826".

The dish was presented to Empress Maria Feodorovna, the founder of the Department of the Empress Maria Feodorovna.

Empress Maria Feodorovna (1759-1828), second spouse of Tsesarevich, and then emperor Paul, nee Princess Sofia-Dorothea-Augusta-Luisa of Wuertemberg. After enthronement of emperor Paul on November 12, 1796 she was the chief of the "Education society of noble maidens", which was initially Office of Empress Maria Feodorovna, and then Department (or Institute) of the Empress Maria Feodorovna, which became in October 26, 1828 the Highest state body of management of charitable, educational institutions for women, education houses, shelters for lack-all and helpless children, and asyla under protection of Empresses. Charitable establishments of the Department were created almost in all large cities of the Russian empire. In Moscow and Moscow province there were not less than 10, in St. Petersburg and its environs — more than 17.

In March, 1917 the Provisional government liquidating the institutes of imperial Russia, including various charitable societies adopted a decision preserving the Department of the Empress Maria Feodorovna with its initial name ".