Russian box

PHOTOS REQUIRED - marks + item
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amena
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Joined: Fri Jan 20, 2012 8:42 am

Russian box

Post by amena »

I saw this ad on the Internet and it seems to me that there is a contradiction of dates
.......... box with cockerel handles, mark of Pavel Ovchinnikov (1830-1888) beneath the imperial warrants, Moscow, Russia, 1908-1917
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Besides this, there is something that sounds out of tune to me, even if I can not say exactly what.
I do not know much about Russian silver and I would like to know the opinion of some expert just to learn something. In any case, genuine or fake, I'm not interested in buying the item.
Thanks for attention
Amena
Goldstein
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Joined: Sat Dec 12, 2015 9:53 am

Re: Russian box

Post by Goldstein »

Hi amena -

Russian enamel works were known for their high quality (creativity and craftsmanship) world-wide - some of the manufacturers - just to name two, gained wide fame (Ovtschinnikov, Rückert etc.).
Failed and absurd designs in clumsy technology make it very easy to see the difference. Fancy marks complete the picture.
An insult to the eye!

Regards
Goldstein
amena
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Joined: Fri Jan 20, 2012 8:42 am

Re: Russian box

Post by amena »

Hi Goldstein
your opinion cheers me up, there is someone else who thinks that this object is not noteworthy.
I asked someone's opinion, because I did not realize how someone had already offered a huge amount of money for this box that I would not buy even for a tenth of that amount.
But I suspect that the bidder is a partner of the seller.
Best
Amena
AG2012
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Joined: Fri Apr 13, 2012 9:47 am

Re: Russian box

Post by AG2012 »

Hi,
Online internet auctions lack common sense because one relies on anonymous sellers expertise.Besides, one does not have the item in his hands.
This fake is not dangerous because it`s too obvious but there must be profit in this trade and naive buyers.
Regards
amena
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Joined: Fri Jan 20, 2012 8:42 am

Re: Russian box

Post by amena »

Excuse me if I'm pushy, but I'm just trying to learn.
I found the photo of this box among Sotheby's auction results, also attributed to Ovchinnikov. There is no photo of the hallmark, but, given the name of the auction house, one should assume that the attribution is correct.
Image

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Now I see well the differences between the latter and the first box, but I would not be willing to spend a crazy sum of money even for this one.
In your opinion, is this genuine?
Thanks for attention.
Amena
Goldstein
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Re: Russian box

Post by Goldstein »

Hi amena -

we all live in the same world with the same rules and habits....

Pecunia non olet ("money does not stink") is a Latin phrase.

The phrase goes back to the Roman Emperor Vespasian. In ancient Rome, urine, in particular "fouled", from which alkaline ammonia forms, was used as a means of leather tanning and laundry cleaning. For example, amphora-type latrines were set up on busy streets in Rome to collect the urine needed by the tanners and scrubbers.

To fill the empty coffers, Emperor Vespasian levied a special latrine tax on these public toilets. Suetonus states that Vespasian justified the tax before his son Titus by holding money from the first revenue under his nose and asked if the smell disturbs him (sciscitans num odore offenderetur). When he said no, Vespasian said: Atqui e lotio est ("And yet it's from urine"). Over time, it became the idiom Pecunia non olet, "money does not stink".

The phrase has held to this day to justify the possession or purchase of money from unclean sources of revenue.

Regards
Goldstein
Qrt.S
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Location: Helsinki Finland

Re: Russian box

Post by Qrt.S »

Dear Amena,

Unfortunately a well known auction house is no guarantee for a correct attribution. Their target is only to sell to highest price. A well known pseudo here once stated: "Only believe in your own eyes, knowledge and experience." That is a statement worth to keep in mind.
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