Russian solid silver trompe l'oeil miniature casket

This miniature silver casket is of traditional form. The casket features a barrel top lid, mounted hanging handles on its sides, and a lockable clasp at the front. The exterior surface of the casket features a faux weave decorative scheme, carried through onto the surface of the lid, which is achieved by fine engraving of the solid silver and illustrates the trend for the trompe l'oeil effect popular in Russian silverwork of this period. On top of the lid is an unfilled medallion. The interior surface of the casket is silver-gilt.

An original solid silver lock, crafted in the form of an acanthus leaf, is included, along with its key. The casket is stamped on the interior of the lid with silver marks, including ‘84’, which designates 875 grade silver.