Russian silver cigarette case with niello scene, Moscow, 1883
Description
Medium: silver (84 zolotniki standard, approx. 875‰) with niello
Weight: 83 g; Dimensions: 9 x 4.5 x 2.5 cm
Hallmarks: Moscow city mark; “84” standard mark (zolotniki, approx. 875‰ silver); assay mark “СЩ” (Cyrillic, unidentified), dated 1883; maker’s mark “ТД” (Cyrillic, unidentified)
Provenance
Private Collection, Romania
Location
Bucharest, Romania
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Description
A rectangular cigarette case with rounded corners and hinged lid, worked in hammering, engraving and niello. The decoration is organised vertically, with the front panel depicting a family scene set beside a house, rendered in niello with fine linear detail. The reverse presents a geometric composition, with a checkerboard niello ground centred by a double-outlined lozenge enclosing a vacant field.
The contrast between the narrative figural scene and the structured geometric reverse reflects a refined decorative approach characteristic of late 19th-century Moscow silver, where niello is used both for pictorial and ornamental purposes.
The hallmarks indicate Moscow assay in 1883, with the 84 zolotniki standard (approx. 875‰ silver). The assay master’s mark “СЩ” and the maker’s mark “ТД” (both in Cyrillic) remain unidentified.
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