Large Silver Cigar Box, St. Petersburg, 1879

Large trompe-l'oeil silver cigar box, St. Petersburg, 1879, the lid and sides superbly engraved to imitate woodgrain and tobacco paper tax bands. Height 2 3/8 in. (6 cm), width 5 3/8 in. (13,6 cm), length 8 1/4 in. (21 cm). Weight 30,6 oz. (867 g). Excellent condition.

Silver cigar boxes engraved to imitate original wooden boxes were fashionable in Russia from circa 1870s to the early 20th century. The earlier boxes from 1870s-1890s, in general, are of superior quality to later pieces. Cigar boxes of such size and weight are rare.

$18,500.00

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The center of the lid is engraved with the French brand name H.UPMANN FLOR, partially covered with crossed Russian tax bands.

The front panel is engraved with the cigar name COLORADO. Both, the brand name on the lid and the cigar's name, are engraved to imitate letters burnt into wood.

Engraved Russian inscription on the tax bands reads: "IMPORTED TOBACCO."

Marked with 84 zolotniks (875 silver) with assayer's initials of Ivan Yevstigneev and date 1879, master's initials JB, and later French control mark for foreign silver.

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