Antique Russian Silver Trunk Form Cigarette Case

This Antique Russian Silver Cigar Case measures 4-3/4"x 2-3/4"x 1", weighs 197.9 grams {6.36 oz troy} and is in excellent functional estate found condition with no dents, bends, breaks, or repairs.

 

Light normal wear with a couple of no harm dings to two corners. Some minor wear to the engine turned engraving on the back but nothing serious. Hand engraved with straps and handles over engine turned background. Marked on the gold wash cover and base interior with Russian, St. Petersburg 84 Silver Hallmarks. Cyrillic makers mark. Maker Erik August Kollin (1836-1901) was born in Finland, where he completed his apprenticeship before travelling to St. Petersburg. Qualified as work master in 1868, in 1870 opened his own workshop in St. Petersburg. Kollin worked for August Holmstrm and for Carl Faberg, and was soon put in charge of all Faberg workshops, a post he held until 1886 when he was replaced by Michael Perchin. He was Faberg's first chief jeweler. Specialized in gold and silver articles, most of them in an archaic style of the period. The artifacts produced Kollin for Faberg before his departure in 1886 generally bears his initials EK, together with Faberg's hallmark and are frequently to be found in a Faberg box.

 

Evidently these pre-date the change of hallmarks in 1899. Objects bearing EK mark only and produced between 1885 and 1899 should be considered as the work of an independent operator, unless cased by Faberg. Guaranteed old, authentic and as described.