A RARE PARCEL-GILT STEEL SNUFF BOX

Tula, well known as a manufacturing centre for arms and armour, developed a distinctive technique of combining steel with gilding, used to decorate hunting weapons and small luxury objects such as vases and snuffboxes. A comparable snuffbox was sold Christie’s, New York, 19 April 2002, lot 57. Another similar box is part of the collection of the State Historical Museum, Moscow.