This is a really great piece of antique Russian made silver with shaded enamel decoration in the form of a little salt cellar sitting on a pedestal foot. So tiny and yet such a beautiful work of art. It was made by a very skilled craftsperson and the detailed, decorative silverwork within the enamel decoration is fantastic on this one. This particular piece has been in my personal collection since the year 1998. Please be sure to read the Age and Condition paragraphs below. This piece is made in the hand enameled cloisonné technique for which the Russian craftsmen & craftswomen are so famous for. The enamel decoration is incredibly intricate and detailed with the majority of the sides being covered in the lovely shaded enamel work. This piece has particularly beautiful shaded enamel work and is extremely colorful, displaying at least seven (7) different colors of enamel by my count. The shading work on the enamel and the associated decorative silver work is top quality. It is a very skillfully made, very unusual and a very high-quality little piece. Originally the exposed silver areas may have been covered with a gold gilding or wash, commonly referred to as vermeil, which, if so, has tarnished or worn over time, only a very small amount of this is still visible in the inside. The underside of the piece is clearly hallmarked with two authentic period marks. First it is h. Allmarked with the makers mark in Cyrillic HB I. In English and unidentified, with a 1. 875 sterling (slightly less than sterling). I see nothing similar to this shape in the in. The book The Open Salt Compendium by Sandra Jzyk & Nina Robertson or any of my other salt cellar books. John Atzbach, a very reputable and respected Russian antiques dealer, also wrote an extremely informative article on Russian enamels and makers for the book The Open Salt Compendium by Sandra Jzyk & Nina Robertson. A fine quality, beautiful and desirable little piece. I do my best to describe all items as accurately as possible and to the best of my ability. Some of my photos may be somewhat lighter or darker than actual to better show detail or color. However, do not hesitate to contact me with any questions, comments, or with requests for additional pictures. Our store has many unique and interesting items in several different categories from 35 years of our dealing and collecting antiques and collectables. Circa 1896 – 1908. It is in excellent to near mint condition. Please look closely at the photos as they are an important part of my description of this item. I see no dents, dings or breaks to the silver and no loss or damage whatsoever to the enamel decoration. I will only mention some very light age-related wear consistent with the age of the piece, some tarnish to the silver and the loss of most of the vermeil gilding as mentioned above. Please keep in mind these photos may be blown up at least 8-10 times normal, so anything you see will look 8-10 times larger in the photos than it really is. Please note: if you see a dark spot in the photos it is from my camera and is not a mark on the piece. It will be either just to the right of center towards the bottom or slightly above center on the right side of the photo. About 2.125 (5.4 cm) in diameter at the widest point and sits about 1.625 (4.1 cm) off the table. About 1.625 ounces (50 grams). On heavier items I will also offer a less expensive option, if available. The item “FABULOUS 1896-1908 ANTIQUE 84 SILVER RUSSIAN UNUSUAL SHADED ENAMEL SALT CELLAR” is in sale since Saturday, March 28, 2020. This item is in the category “Antiques\Silver\Non-U.S. Silver\Russia”. The seller is “rvhound” and is located in Middletown, Ohio. This item can be shipped worldwide.
- Type: Salt Cellar
- Featured Refinements: Antique Russian Silver Enamel
