A silver-gilt, cloisonn and en-plein enamel Cigar-box

MARKED WITH THE CYRILLIC INITIALS OF FEDOR RCKERT, OVERSTRUCK WITH THE MARK OF O. KURLIUKOV, MOSCOW, 1908-1917

Details

A silver-gilt, cloisonn and en-plein enamel Cigar-box
marked with the Cyrillic initials of Fedor Rckert, overstruck with the mark of O. Kurliukov, Moscow, 1908-1917
Oblong, the sides with stylized flowerheads in reserves with geometric motifs on grey, blue and brown ground, the hinged cover with a shaped en-plein plaque of 'Ivan Tsarevich and the Grey Wolf' after V. Vasnetsov within stylized border, gilt interior, marked inside cover and under base
3in. (9cm.) long

Lot Essay

Viktor Mikhailovich Vasnetsov (1848-1926) painted the canvas of 'Ivan Tsarevich and the Grey Wolf' in 1889, which was bought by Pavel Tret'iakov in whose gallery it remains in Moscow. It is taken from the famous folk-tale of 'The Tale of Ivan-Tsarevich, the Fire-Bird and of the Grey Wolf' inspired by the lines 'Ivan-Tsarevich, seated on the Grey Wolf with the Beautiful Elena, loved her with all his heart, and she Ivan-Tsarevich'.