ANTIQUE 19thC RUSSIAN PRESENTATION 14k GOLD & ENAMEL SNUFF BOX c.1870
19th Century Russian presentation 14k gold & enamel snuff box, of elongated rectangular form with slightly rounded corners, all sides beautifully engraved with engine turned decoration and boarders decorated with laurel leaves, terminating in small white gold flowers, centres applied with floral bouquets in reserves and with a miniature shell thumb piece.
Reference Number: A6801
DESCRIPTION
Antique 19th Century Russian presentation 14k gold & enamel snuff box, of elongated rectangular form with slightly rounded corners, all sides beautifully engraved with engine turned decoration and boarders decorated with laurel leaves, terminating in small white gold flowers, centres applied with floral bouquets in reserves and with a miniature shell thumb piece.
The box engraved inside "To highly regarded Medea Ivanovna, Madam Figner, in memory of Nicolai Nicolaievich's arrival in Baku, 1902, presented by close friends"
Nikolay Figner (1857–1918), lyric tenor, and Medea Figner (1859–1952), mezzo-soprano, later soprano, were a husband-and-wife team of opera singers active in Russia between 1889 and 1904. Medea was Italian-born (her original surname was Mei) but she became completely Russianized after marrying Nikolay. They had separate careers before their wedding, and again after their divorce in 1904, but during the 15 years of their marriage they almost always sang in the same performances. They created the main tenor and soprano roles in two operas by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky – The Queen of Spades and Iolanta – and appeared in a number of other important Russian musical premieres.
Hallmarked with Russian gold import marks 56 (585 gold standard), Maker's mark CM (unknown), inventory number 2324, probably made in Germany (Hanau, c.1870)
CONDITION
In Great Condition - No Damage.
SIZE
Height: 2.5cm
Width: 8.5 x 4cm
Weight: 100g