Russian Silver, Gold And Niello Topographical Snuff Box

About the Item

This silver, gold and niello inlaid topographical snuffbox is a masterpiece of Russian silver. Almost owned by a wealthy 19th-century tradesman, this extraordinary creation shares a remarkable story of trade, travel and silver craftsmanship along Russia’s historic Volga River. More than an object of aesthetic splendor, this functional snuff box captured a bounty of essential information and data for its important owner. Its top displays an intricately inlaid map of Russia’s Volga region, with silver filigree outlining the meandering flow of the Volga River and the undulating hills of the region. Certain regions are labeled by their primary trades and exports — stone, iron and paper are all accounted for. A key in the lower right captures the names of towns across the region, along with their distances, measured in the now-obsolete Russian unit of measurement called the Versta, allowing for precise calculations. The underside of the box provides further intrigue, offering a census of “souls” of different classes of Russian society, including merchants, peasants, bondsmen and tradesmen. A total of 299,801 souls are meticulously counted for the owner’s knowledge. Crafted in Russia in 1824, this box was far more than a decorative object for carrying snuff. It offered its tradesman the ability to hold crucial knowledge of the world around him in hand. Imbued with significant symbolic meanings in Russian culture and folklore, the Volga River — often known to Russians as “Mother Volga” — is the longest river in Europe and the apocryphal origin of the Rus' Khaganate, the old Russian state founded in the 9th century. In many ways, this box ties its wealthy owner to the commerce and lives of the region's inhabitants. A nearly identical snuff box resides in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Inscribed “A Z 6" in Cyrillic Circa 1824 5/8“ high x3 3/8” wide x 2 1/8“ deep

Dimensions:
Height: 0.63 in (1.61 cm)Width: 3.38 in (8.59 cm)Depth: 2.13 in (5.42 cm)
Style:
Other (In the Style Of)
Materials and Techniques:
Gold,Silver,Inlay,Niello
Place of Origin:
Russia
Period:
19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
Circa 1824
Condition:
Seller Location:
New Orleans, LA
Reference Number:
Seller: 31-82391stDibs: LU891138665562