A silver cigar-cutter formed as a muzhik

MARKED SAZIKOV WITH IMPERIAL WARRANT, ST. PETERSBURG, CIRCA 1870

Details

A silver cigar-cutter formed as a muzhik
marked Sazikov with Imperial warrant, St. Petersburg, circa 1870
On octagonal base, naturalistically formed as a muzhik standing on a rocky ground and smoking a pipe, whilst leaning on a barrel, a yoke for a horse and a bucket nearby and an axe with pierced center attached to a hollow tree-stump forming the cigar-cutter, the base engraved 'Presented by His Imperial Highness The Grand Duke Alexis of Russia to Edward S. Sanford Pensacola, Florida, Feb. 22nd 1872', fully marked, defaced marks on base
8¼in. (21.7cm.) high
62oz. (1940gr.)

Lot Essay

Grand Duke Alexis, the third son of the Tsar Alexander II and future Admiral of the Russian Fleet, went to the United States in 1871 for a few months. After staying a few days in New York in November 1871, he moved to Washington, where he met President Grant.
From Boston, he journeyed to Montreal, Ottowa, Toronto and Niagara then to Buffalo for Christmas and Chicago for New Year's Day.
On January 11, 1872, he left St. Louis for Omaha with Lieutenant General Sheridan and General George Amstrong Custer where they moved with "Buffalo Bill" Cody to the Nebraska prairie for a buffalo hunting party. Afterwards, Grand Duke Alexis moved forwards to New Orleans and Pensacola in Florida where he presented the above cigar cutter.

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