A large and fine Alexander III late 19^th century Russian 84 zolotnik parcel gilt silver cigar box, Saint Petersburg 1885 by Johan Ferdinand Olsonins (Finnish 1823-1888)

Of rectangular form with a hinged lid raised by a simple thumbpiece. The body with engraved and engine turned trompe-l'œil decoration to resemble the packing for cigars, gilt bands. Gilt interior. Marked underneath with chetvernik for assayer Ivan Vonifatiyevich Yevstigneyev (1870-94) and maker’s mark J.O.

Length – 22.6 cm / 8.95 inches

Height – 10 cm / 3.95 inches

Weight – 1256 grams / 40.38 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)

A box engraved with maps and statistics relating to Saint Petersburg of 1886 by Olsonius and retailed by Grachev, was sold Sotheby’s London, 4 June 2013, lot 451 (£10,625 incl. prem)