Featured Antique Russian Cloisonne Cigarette Case (1907)

It's my understanding that hallmarks are essentially for tax purposes. As such, they are applied when the work reaches a stage where all the taxable materials have been committed.

This can happen before the piece is finished. (In a case like this, probably before the enameling.) Subsequent finishing work on the piece will wear down the marks. Wear to a hallmark is not necessarily from post production usage.

 

Antique Russian precious metals often have town marks and assayer's marks. The assayer's mark was for tax purposes. A national mark was introduced in 1896.
Not all antique Russian items are fully marked, most gold is not, I don't know about silver.
Fakes are usually fully marked, to give a sense of credibility.

 

As already said, have no issue with 22 karat gold being 88 zolotnik, it's a unit of measure, as illustrated by the chart you posted, but those are not related to a country's standards, can't imagine what country would have a 1/4 karat standard, much less assay and stamp pieces as such. The ring shows a proper 56 zolotnik/14K mark, '56' was not a Russian silver standard, and the box description only shows a silver mark.

Again, would suggest having the Russian researchers on 925-1000 take a look at the piece...

~Cheryl

 

It is from one of my gold marks books. I have a silver marks book by the same writer with zolotnik standards as well, that has a different, shorter, list.
Both lists are for zolotnik marks, not for carat marks.

I think the first thing is to have it tested by a reliable jeweler who can also test for gold plated.
Once that is done, DB will have more information for any forum he wants to join to ask. There are also specific forums for antique Russian silver and gold, and jewelers who are specialized in antique Russian items, some even in the US, which makes communication easy.

 

What I meant was of course the general look of the mark, not the 56 part. If it had been 88 zolotniki, it would have said 88.
Again, best to have it tested first, and then ask a forum that knows about antique Russian precious metal. No use to keep discussing the marks or materials of the case, or question the contents of gold and silver books here now, imo.

 

Personally, like many other silver collectors, believe if a piece is properly marked, in a style and construction appropriate to the era and the maker, testing the metal isn't really necessary, with the results sometimes incorrect, and too often destructive to the piece.

~Cheryl

 

Found this online:


I think it shows the maker's mark on the cigarette case could be AK, but the site that had this picture did not identify the maker.

 

It could be the mark of Antip Kuzmichev, but I can't see very well if that is the Moscow mark in the centre of the row of marks on the right.

 

Even though partially obscured, it does look like 'AK', perhaps the other side's mark, if present, is a bit more clear - and yes, it was a hallmarking requirement, though anomalies exist. Skimming through the 57 pages of 'K's in Ivanov's 'Gold and Silversmiths in Russia, 1600-1926', find at least 10 late 19th century makers using an 'AK' mark, including the large shop of Antip Ivanovich Kuzmichev, noted as a "silver and bronze factory" (even more 'AK' makers based in St. Petersburg)...

~Cheryl

 

Bottom line DB.....do you still wish to give this away to your brothers or sisters kids.....who ' may ' cherish it as you would wish ??
& who gets it?
Will others take this as a slight.......

Are you sure that disseminating various family treasures of substantial value at this time....as opposed to a will, is the best move ?

Just being a devils advocate here........y'know...fer shits & giggles !!

( the term devil's advocate describes someone who, given a certain point of view, takes a position he or she does not necessarily agree with (or simply an alternative position from the accepted norm), for the sake of debate or to explore the thought further.)

 

In another vein of thought, you may also want to research the significance of the dates. I have not found an imperial ruler who was in power those dates. Perhaps finding out that could give you some more information.

 

maybe it was a birthday gift.......when was gramps born?

 

Given that the dates are 25 years apart, either a 25th birthday or 25th wedding anniversary would be my first 2 (and I think most likely) choices.

Was your grandfather born in Russia?

 

I was thinking also about the 21 and V.


Whatever the event is, I just thought it would be interesting to find out, and leave the info with this heirloom.

 

I claim NO expertise, but I have to wonder - 22k gold is close to pure, and pure gold, at 24K is very malleable (I put a thumb print on a 24 K item as a kid to test it. Oops!).
So could 22k gold withstand the enameling, and the handling that a cigarette case would be expected to endure?

Any insight would be welcome.

 

Take a look through here for an idea on value:
https://www.skinnerinc.com/search?s=Enamel+Cigarette+Case

 

Wow: Thank you so much to everyone (calling out especially @Any Jewelry and @DragonflyWink) for the excellent information! In response to your questions:

@komokwa: r those marks on the spring loaded open/close tab..?
The marks are not in the proximity of the spring-loaded open/close tab. They are on the top, outside edge of the "lip" that fits into the outer lid. I believe this is depicted in the third photo of the series of four uploaded to my original post in this thread.

@komokwa: it's missing the fabric covered elastic to hold the ciggs in place
I do see two "bars" along opposite ends of the case interior, where such an elastic piece would likely have been anchored.

@DragonflyWink (Cheryl): there should also be marks on the other side of the case since each separate piece should marked
Examining the piece carefully, I do see a couple of what I could only describe as depressions on the other side of the case, corresponding in position exactly to the marks that I previously photographed on the opposite side. They are so indistinct that they originally escaped my attention. I will upload photographs of them here but even with my admittedly untrained eye, it is very difficult to see distinct lines, even with the aid of a large magnifying glass.

@Any Jewelry: Only the corner details and the opening tab look silver to me. A silvermark would be on one of those.
I do observe some wear on the tab, where the gold layer has been worn away, revealing a silver color underneath. With the large magnifying glass, however, I am unable to see any marks (on the opening tab or any interior corners, if that is what you meant).

@DragonflyWink: suggest posting your item in the Russian forum on the 925-1000 site
Thank you so much for this excellent suggestion. I will definitely register/post there and report back any findings.

@johnnycb09: doesnt it look just a little TOO perfect?
Well, although I would say that it is overall in excellent condition, the piece is certainly not perfect. First, as @komokwa pointed out, it is missing the elastic band for holding the cigarettes in place. Second, as mentioned immediately above, there is some wear on the tab, where the patina has been worn away, revealing a silver color underneath. Third, when I angle the piece in my hand so that the light reflects directly on the bottom surface of the case's interior, there appear to be minor signs of wear.

Inside_Wear.jpg shows the wear that is visible on the interior side of the case, when the light is reflected in a certain way, where cigarettes would have been strapped in.

Tab_Wear.jpg shows some wear to the tab piece, with silver color showing through the patina.

Indistinct_Marks_4.jpg shows the relationship of the marks I discovered, thanks to @DragonflyWink's prompting, to the other set of marks, on the other side of the case.

Indistinct_Marks_5.jpg is the clearest detail shot I could get of the newly discovered marks.

 

r those marks on the spring loaded open/close tab..?
Sorry, 4 not being clearer....

Are there any marks on the opening tab ?

 

.

 

Most of the Russian cigarette cases, trinket boxes, etc, with dates or monograms on top that I have seen were not related to imperial or historic events. They were most likely personal commemorative items. People's lives went on and were celebrated, whatever the Imperial family got up to. Like Bakers, I was thinking of a 25th wedding anniversary or birthday.