Page 1 of 1

Russian niello silver cigarette case: maker and date ?

Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2007 8:42 pm
by dinio
Hi,

I have a fine niello silver cigarette case which has 2 sets of marks.

The town mark clearly indicates Moscow and the assayer is Viktor Savinkov.
But the assay date is completely worn, and I am unable to identify the maker. Has somebody ideas ?

Moreover, I guess that the picture on the case is a view of the Kremlin, but I am not sure. Can anyone confirm this ?

Here are the pictures:
Image

Image

Thanks in advance
Dinio
.

Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 3:47 am
by Bahner
Hello, Savinkov was active 1855-1888. The Moscow city mark used here is the one introduced in 1880, so one can narrow this piece down to 1880- 1888. As to the maker - sorry, Postnikova gives no match that would fit both the date and the letters. Best wishes, Bahner
.

Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 8:17 pm
by dinio
Hello Bahner,
Thanks a lot for these precisions. Looking at the assayer mark, we can guess that the upper part of the last digit of the year is an horizontal line, which could indicate that the year is 1885 or 1887. Considering that there is a faint line going downwards on the right, one could guess that 1887 is more probable.
Any idea about the landscape on the case?
Thanks again,
Dinio
.

Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 10:23 pm
by admin