Niello box

[argent2]

Can you help identifying the marks on this niello silver cigarette box please, possibly Russian?

[AG2012]

Hi,
Town mark is missing, but I think it was assayed in Moscow.
Btw. missing town mark is always spurious; are you sure there are no more marks, both halves of the box are supposed to be marked.
Maker`s mark is within an rectangle,but what letters do you see: is it AP or something else ?
Regards

[dognose]

Hi,

Welcome to the Forum.

Please provide sharp close-ups of all of the marks.

Trev.

[Qrt.S]

Are there marks on the other half too? If so, please show them. If not, this cigarette case is a suspicious object. Please all tell us the measures of the case.

[argent2]

Thanks for that advice. Yes the lid is marked too and with a town mark. The format is as Grodno 'c.1860s' on your help page but the content within the shield is hard to identify.

Limited to 2 photo's of course. So will send another photo soon.

The maker's mark (3 of) looks like 'AC' but if the top of the 'C' nearly closes to like an 'e' but same size as the 'C'.

For clarity the assay masters mark is: B . C over 1865

[argent2]

Dimensions of the box are: 10.8 x 6.4 x 1.6 centimetres.

[dognose]

Limited to 2 photo's of course.

There are no limits to the amount of images you can add.

Trev.

[Mart]

[Qrt.S]

Thanks! However, something is not in place here, too many marks (year marks for 1862, 1865, 1866 and maker's marks AP, AC and AG?) In addition assayer BC is often seen on fakes. The town mark of Moscow (riding St.George) on the last pic is strange for the year(s) in question. The measures are not either so common for a Russian pairossi box....etc...etc...Strange object indeed??????

[AG2012]

I thought above marks were given by Mart as examples for Moscow. of the period, not related to niello box in rhe first post.
We need clarification.
Regards

[Qrt.S]

Mart!
Please start from the beginning and and tell what marks are on the box and where.

[Mart]

Indeed, I just gave examples of the brands of masters who made similar products at that time: "ае","АР", "АС". The top speaker is not sure what initials are on the brand. I think the brand can be cleaned. Perhaps there are letters "ae" ( master а.еgorov).
This combination of brands is still found at this time, often on boxes.
I think that the brands of the Savinsky brothers ' probirers "ВС" were forged no more often than others))).

[argent2]

[argent2]

Townmark image attached

[argent2]

Thanks for all your help.
Mart your first image is definitely the same punch as on my box. You can see why I said the 'C' looks a bit like an 'e'.

I have now provided the best image I can of the town mark which is not as crisp as the other marks so will understand if you say not clear enough!

[Mart]

I was sure from the very beginning that there was an "Aе" brand there))).

[AG2012]

This is not Moscow town mark:what is it ? There are sevaral candidates.

[Mart]

The brand is Moscow.
I wrote earlier the most likely candidate for "Аe".