4 - NEO-RUSSIAN STYLE

NEO-RUSSIAN STYLE A PAIR OF SILVER SALT CELLARS IN THE FORM OF LOAVES. ALEXANDER IOSIFOVICH FULD. MOSCOW, RUSSIA, 1884. A rare pair of silver salt cellars made by the Moscow silversmith Alexander Iosifovich Fuld in 1884. Each salt cellar is conceived in the form of a small loaf and set on a circular saucer. The pierced decorative mount on the saucer is conceived as a miniature tablecloth spread around the salt cellar. Its shaped edges form an intricate ornamental outline composed of geometric latticework, scrolling foliage and floral rosettes. This treatment evokes the appearance of a laid table and lends the composition a distinctive genre-like character. The central receptacle is of rounded cylindrical form, recalling a loaf of bread, and is fitted with a removable cover. The surfaces of the body and cover are engraved with foliate and geometric ornament. The cover is surmounted by an original finial in the form of a miniature chair with a pierced back and floral rosette. The combination of the loaf-shaped body, the “tablecloth” motif on the saucer and the chair-shaped finial creates a coherent decorative composition characteristic of Moscow silver of the Historicist period. Marks: Maker’s mark “А.Ф.” for Alexander Iosifovich Fuld; Moscow assay master’s mark “В.С.” above the date “1884”; silver standard mark “84”; Moscow city mark depicting St George the Dragon-Slayer. Dimensions: Diameter 11 cm; height 6.5 cm. Weight: Total weight of the pair 269 g. Condition: Excellent collector’s condition. Width: 11cm, Height: 6.5cm, Depth: 11cm, Condition: Excellent, Material: Silver 84, ID: ID-ANTQ-17242