Description

This exceptional antique Russian silver cheroot case has a rounded rectangular shaped form.

The surface of this antique cheroot holder is embellished with fine and impressive niello enamel Fret band ornamentation segmented with concave silver gilt borders; this ornamentation continues across the rounded sides to the opposing cover.

The anterior surface of the case incorporates a panel depicting three male figures on a troika (Russian: тройка), the central horse wearing a horse collar and shaft bow, with the two side horses in breast collar harnesses.

The posterior cover of the case bears a plain rectangular vacant cartouche to the centre, encompassed with a continuation of Fret band decoration.

This exceptional case secures with a push fit catch and opens to reveal the original gilding.

The hallmarks to the interior of this antique case include:

Maker's Mark: НФ (untraced)

Assay mark: A.A 1890 (Anatoly Apollonovich Artsybashev/Анатолий Аполлонович Арцыбашев)

Silver quality/purity mark: 84 (84 zolotniks**)

City Mark: St George slaying the dragon (Moscow, Russia)

This impressive antique Russian silver box is an exceptional example of its type.

* A Troika has become a cultural icon of Russia and is a traditional harness driven combination, typically using three horses abreast and usually pulling a sleigh. This style of transportation was developed in the 17th century for delivering mail with quicker speeds.

** 84 zolotniki is equivalent to 875/1000 or .875 standard silver

View the full range of Russian silverware at AC Silver