CIGARETTE BOX WITH EMPEROR NICHOLAS I CROSSING THE DANUBE
Creator(s): Gavrila Ustinov (Silversmith)
Currently in storage
About this object
On the cover is a scene that consists of two parts: in the foreground Emperor Nicholas I arrives at the banks of the Danube. His horse is being taken away by an officer, and he is greeted by the commander (Ataman) of the Zaporozhets Cossacks. In the background Emperor Nicholas I, depicted with his back to the viewer, is shown standing in boat gesturing with his Marshall's baton in his proper right hand. The boat is being rowed by three Cossacks and their commander is seated at left. An inscription below this identifies the scene as the Emperor Nicholas I crossing the Danube. On the reverse is a fanciful architectural landscape comprising a Turkish tower, stone walls, arches, and trees. Both scenes are in niello against a stippled, gilded background. The borders are nielloed with leaves.
- Object name:
- CIGARETTE BOX WITH EMPEROR NICHOLAS I CROSSING THE DANUBE
- Made from:
- Silver gilt -- niello
- Made in:
- Moscow, Russia
- Date made:
- 1830
- Size:
- 1.9 × 8.3 × 5.1 cm (3/4 × 3 1/4 × 2 in.)
Detailed information for this item
- Catalog number:
- 13.32
- Class:
- NIELLO
- Signature marks:
- Inscription [Cyrillic]"pereprava imperatora nikolaia cherez" dunai" On front of box, serves as caption for the cover image. Trans: "Emperor Nicholas's Crossing of the Danube River" maker's mark [Cyrillic] GU Inside top of box. Initials are those of Gavrila Ustinov. silver standard 84 Struck in square frame inside top of box. Hallmark [Mark of St. George and the Dragon] Struck inside top of box. City mark for Moscow. Assayer's mark and date [Cyrillic:] N.D 1830 Struck in square frame inside base of box. Initials are those of Nikolai Dubrovin Nikolai, a Moscow assayer active between 1822 and 1855. silver standard mark 84 Struck in square frame inside base of box. Maker's mark [Cyrillic:] GU Struck inside base of box Initials are those of Gavrila Ustinov.
- Credit line:
- Bequest of Marjorie Merriweather Post, 1973