www.925-1000.com

Help would once again be appreciated with identifying the Moscow maker's mark in the pictures below if you please;



Best regards,
-Atlas-

Hi Atlas -

I suppose that you do not own the snuff box - so asking for detail photos is in vain.
The kokoschnik should have an O (omikron) - not a delta! Clean and new photo! Is the figure on top soldered or riveted? Photo of the inside! Further marks! Silver content higher than usual - 916/1000!
This object could be interesting with more informations.....
unknown by name master XM



Regards
Goldstein

source: PL

I have a bad feeling. The kokoshnik doesn't look right. I'm afraid that this is a suspicious object. In addition, cannot find a single master known or unknown to name, in Moscow punching XM at that time. I would avoid buying it.

Hi,
Searched for XM in Russian forums, auctions etc. in vain.
There was XM on Soviet badges, twenties,(not identified).
The style is more like 19th century box.
Normally, when searched in Russian something always emerges, not this time.
Kokoshnik was not recently struck,I think (scratches, gilding)

Thank you for your replies so far. I will try to take better pics tomorrow and post those then here. And suppose we will have a little better picture of the case then.
Regards,
-Atlas-

Could be omicron, not delta.A scratch over it is misleading.
Still unusual for Baku``88`` and the style for this period.

Compare with a genuine one!

You are right, there are obvious differences.

Hi -

Without really meaningful photos (detail photos) one can say not much. Crucial now is the city stamp, which should agree reasonably with the style and quality of the box. I can not imagine that this box comes from the Caucasus region ....
Here are some authentic stamps - all have some differences - which one is more valid than another?










Regards
Goldstein

source: private collection

It has been somewhat hectic last couple of days.
None the less took some photos by mobile phone. Lets hope that those are better than the ones I took before.( My daughter took my camera for some days.So until I get it back we'll have to manage with these.)
Brushed the gently the hallmarks before taking the photos. Appear now to me more like greek alfa instead of delta but let us hear more experienced opinions, shall we if you please?
(...If the pics are good enough.)

...And Goldstein it is soldered, the figure on the top.

Regards,
- Atlas -

@Atlas
The Russian masters used rivets. They usually did not solder decorations like that. I still have a bad feeling...

I hear you, Qrt.S.
Atleast on the inside of the lid shows no traces of attachment of the top ornament.

Hi Atlas -

nice photos but for our purpose not good enough. As soon as you have your camera back please take some macro shots from the Kokoschnik (townmark) and from the small, round control mark.Try to catch the dot(s) on it.
That the application is soldered instead of riveted is not necessarily a bad sign, but indicates in any case on a subsequent, professional attachment.







Let´s wait and see...

Regards
Goldstein

The dots in the small kokshnik indicate Transcaucasia. The unknown XM worked in Tiflis but its assay office closed down in 1904. The next stop is Odessa. That means that the Greek letter in the main kokshnik must be kappa (K) is it?-----Well in a bad punch one could see some similarities with alfa, but....?

Hi Atlas -

Now it is clear (in my opinion): it is a well made European snuff box "upgraded" to a Russian object. It is not the style you expect from Tiflis (XM)! The Kokoschnik and the control mark plus the exotic maker are the give away. Sorry for that.

Regards
Goldstein

Ok. Starting to understand the meaning of a decent photo. A bit closer to satisfied with the last pic I posted.