A PARCEL-GILT SILVER AND NIELLO COWRIE-SHELL BOX

PROBABLY VELIKII USTIUG, CIRCA 1815

Details

A PARCEL-GILT SILVER AND NIELLO COWRIE-SHELL BOX
PROBABLY VELIKII USTIUG, CIRCA 1815
The cowrie-shell forming the body, with wave mount and flat parcel-gilt hinged cover depicting Emperor Alexander I and Empress Elizabeth Alexeievna, in niello, after the engraving The Peace for Europe by C. Caredelli, with Russian inscriptions, with further later inscription inside the cover, apparently unmarked
3 in. (7.8 cm.) long

Provenance

Christie's, London, 26 April 1989, lot 275.

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Lot Essay

The inscription reads: 'Peace has been achieved by your victories' and 'Europe has been saved by your steadfastness'. The inscription inside the cover reads: 'VB Gift from Ulita Romadina 1828 Yakutsk'.

The Italian engraver Salvatore Caredelli worked in St. Petersburg from 1797. The Peace for Europe dates from 1814.

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