1873 Russian Silver Niello Cigarette Case with Kremlin Engraving
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19th century Russian silver and niello cigarette case, marked, Moscow, 1873, assay B.C, maker I.F (Ivan Futikin), of rectangular pillow form, beautifully engraved with an image of the Kremlin, with ground of acanthus scroll verso, total weight 134gm, 11 cm x 6 cm
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- Niello - A compound made up of lead silver copper and sulphur that is black in colour, and applied to the engraved areas of silver items, thus highlighting the engraving by making the black niello detail stand out from the silver background. It was used on edged weapons from the Renaisance onwards, and also by Russian crafstmen of the19th century.
- Acanthus - A stylized leaf motif, one of the primary decorative elements of classical Greek and Roman architecture, derived from the genus of flowering plants in the family Acanthaceae, native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Mediterranean area. It is a common element in classical Greek and Roman design, and is often seen in Corinthian and Composite order columns and used as a decorative element in English, European and Australian furniture, particularly on the curve of a leg, and as decoration for a corbel.
- Assay / Assayed - Assaying is the testing of a metal, most commonly silver and gold to determine its ingredients and quality. In Britain, once an item of silver or gold has been assayed, a mark is stamped on it, certifying its purity. Known as hallmark, it derives its name from the Guild Hall of the Goldsmiths' Company, who recieved its Charter in 1327 giving it the power to assay and mark articles of gold and silver.
- Verso - Verso is the "back" side of a sheet of paper, art work, coin or medal. The front side is "recto".
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