Hi Dad -
in the last 10 years I travelled a lot in Russia (beautiful country, very nice people!) Mostly in winter I went to St. Petersburg (at that time not much foreign visitors) visiting Eremitage for several days.
The elder ladies guarding the showcases allowed me to have a look inside to inspect the marks (it costs me some $$, but was worth every cent!). I always have seen a lot of authentic silver from ИЕЗ all over the world - but nobody seems to know him. So I asked all the museums people I met until in the university of Nishny Novgorod I got the answer: Igor Zavianov - but nothing written. There I got the long sought after two volumes of Caucasian silversmiths too - very knowing people!


Regards
Postnikov