Snuffbox

Unknown

late 19th century · Gold, enamel, diamonds · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Sparkling diamonds and bold red enamel create a luminous backdrop, highlighting the central oval under the imperial crown with the Cyrillic cipher of Czar Nicholas II (1868–1918). The box was likely a gift of the imperial household or government to reward a special service to the Russian empire. Gan owned a workshop in Saint Petersburg that was famous for the exceptional quality of gold enameling.

Artist

Unknown

Date

late 19th century

Medium

Gold, enamel, diamonds

Culture

Russian, St. Petersburg

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917