Topic: Anyone know old Russian Cryrillic script?

[mrvaselineglass]

I have an old Biedermeier mug, circa 1840's, that has old-style Russian script on it, and am trying to find someone who can read it.  If anyone could help, it would be greatly appreciated.  The mug has two hearts, opposite the handle.
in color:
http://www.vaselineglass.org/russianscript.jpg
in black & white for better contrast:
http://www.vaselineglass.org/russianscriptbw.jpg
and, the side view of the mug:
http://www.vaselineglass.org/russianmugside.jpg

Mr. Vaseline Glass

[Ivo]

Looks as if it is cursive - I find it impossible to decypher.

[mrvaselineglass]

i think i am going to contact one of the paid translation services for Russian=English.  I can get it done for a few bucks.  I do appreciate you taking a look.  It is my understanding that there was an old style of Russian cursive Cryrillic script used prior to about 1890, so I will take one translation service at a time.  If they can't translate, I move on to the next.  I showed it to the Russian Language professor at the University of Oklahoma (USA) a year or so ago, but the semester was about over and she said she would look at it over the summer, but never heard back from her.  She said it was something she could do, but would not do it when I showed it to her.  Mysteries like this are fun to crack, so I will keep at it.

[johnphilip]

I may be able to help i have a friend who used to run the library in ST PETERSBURG I will see her in a couple of days and i will ask her to help.

[mrvaselineglass]

any and all help is appreciated!

[mrvaselineglass]

John & Ivo:  Someone from another group that this was sent to believes it to be Serbian Cyrillic script.  She said that the Serbian script was created in 1818 and officially adopted in 1868.  She couldn't quite make all of it out, but the left-hand heart says something like "In memory..."; the first word in the second heart is "Direktor" (which can mean a variety of things, from headmaster to President.)  It was used in most of the former Yugoslavia & Montenegro, although I think these days most people are switching to the Latin alphabet.  It's also similar to the Macedonian version of Cyrillic script, but there are a couple of letters in this inscription that make Serbian more likely.

Dave

[Sue C]

Hi Dave, does this help?  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serbian_Cyrillic_alphabet
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serbian_language#Use_of_scripts

[selina]

No matter what it says Dave, its certainly a stunning glass.

Selina

[Ivo]

My correspondent says: "Looks like Russian but sounds Ukrainian or Serbian - could be Bulgarian too"
So the verdict is, not Russian.

[johnphilip]

I have shown my friend, she also said it is not Russian, even if it were the old form she would understand it,she believes it is Serbian.