An Alexander III Russian 84 Zolotnik (875 standard) silver cream pail or salt, St Petersburg 1885 by Johan Ferdinand Olsonins (Finnish 1823 – 1888), retailed by Grachev Brothers (est. 1866)

Of cylindrical form with moulded rim, and swing wire handle. Traces of gilding to interior. Marked underneath with makers mark, retailers mark and chetvernik for Ivan Vonifatiyevich Yevstigneyev (active 1870-94). Together with Nicholas II silver beaker (stopka), cylindrical form with beaded rim, engraved initials EJ to side, St Petersberg 1898-1903 by PJS (unidentified Postnikova 1827) with kokoshnik for Yakov Nikolayevich Lyapunov (active 1898-1903). (2)

Pail height – 8.5 cm / 3.25 inches

Weight – 124 grams / 3.99 ozt

Olsonins was apprenticed in 1842, master in 1852 (Mark: Postnikova 1770), supplied the firm of Grachev. Gavrill Petrovich Grachev founded the company in 1866, at his death in 1873 his sons Mikhail, Simon and Grigory took over the company and renamed it into Grachev Brothers. From 1886 the firm was made official supplier of the King of Denmark and in 1892, the firm was awarded the title of purveyor of the Imperial Court and was permitted use the Imperial Warrant. (Mark: Postnikova 1262)