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Please help me to identify this box
Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2017 7:29 am
by nnerka1
Re: Please help me to identify this box
Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2017 8:39 am
by Qrt.S
The mark in the middle is not a maker's mark but the assayer's mark. He is Nikolay Dubrovin in Moscow active 1822-1855/62. The maker's mark is in the red circle. It is impossible to read. Please show the same mark in the lid. The manufacturing year seems to be 1827.

Re: Please help me to identify this box
Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2017 9:56 am
by nnerka1
Re: Please help me to identify this box
Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2017 11:48 am
by Goldstein
Hi nnerka1 -
This is a very nice, early niello snuff box. Congratulations! If you own it, please clean it with soap/water and a soft tooth brush to remove the residue of an old cleaning agent (the white stuff!). The condition is excellent!
The maker is a well known niello maker (objects from him are in 2 major Russian museums exhibited) but unfortunately not by name!

= cigarette cases in niello
Regards
Goldstein
source: PL, p.229, #2960
Re: Please help me to identify this box
Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2017 11:54 am
by nnerka1
Thank you very much
Re: Please help me to identify this box
Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2017 2:45 am
by Qrt.S
@nnerka1
The maker's mark to the left is very unclear. Goldstein could be right, but..? I would, anyway, like to see the mark when you have cleaned it if you please.
Re: Please help me to identify this box
Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2017 12:26 pm
by Aguest
Also what is the mark to the right of the "84" hallmark? That would be the town mark?
Re: Please help me to identify this box
Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2017 12:29 pm
by Qrt.S
Riding St. George slaughtering the dragon. It is the town mark for Moscow.
Re: Please help me to identify this box
Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2017 7:11 pm
by Goldstein
Hi Aguest -
here the correct mark - fitting to the makerĀ“s mark 1826-27
Regards
Goldstein
source: PL, #2007
Re: Please help me to identify this box
Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2017 6:30 am
by Qrt.S
I'm afraid that the town mark shown by Goldstein is not the same as on the box. The correct one looks like this:

It is a bit unclear when it was used but 1816(20)-1830 is close enough.
(P#2005, a more specific period is mentioned above and not only 1816 as in Postnikova)
Re: Please help me to identify this box
Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2017 1:44 pm
by nnerka1
Thank you