A Russian silver and cloisonné enamel Imperial presentation cigarette box by Ovchinnikov, the ena

A Russian silver and cloisonné enamel Imperial presentation cigarette box by Ovchinnikov, the enamelled covers depicting polychrome foliage and swags, in delicate rose pink, white, green and pale blue to a similarly enamelled border of turquoise jewelling and forget-me-nots, with gilt thumb piece, the gilt interior engraved 'Presented to Captain James Wolfe Murray RA by H.I.M. Alexander III Autocrat of all the Russias As a momento of the manoeuvres at Krasnoe Selo Aug 22nd 1886' Signed Ovchinnikov in cyrillic beneath the Imperial eagle warrant, maker's mark cyrillic 'PO', with 88 zolotnik assay mark for Moscow pre 1899. Sir James Wolfe Murray (1853-1919) was a distinguished officer in the Royal Artillery, gaining the eastern Command in 1916 until the end of the First World War. He had gained honours in Russia including the Order Of St Anne and the White Eagle. Pavél Ovchinnikov was one of the pioneers in the revival of the Russian silversmith's art of cloisonnne enamelling in the mid 19th century. This type of cloisonné work looked back to the Slavic traditions of the 17th and early 18th century Russian silversmiths. Ovchinnikov had opened his own workshops in Moscow in 1853, and his work was championed by Tsar Alexander II, whereby he recieved the Imperial warrant. This fame enabled him to open a branch in St Petersburg in 1873, in competion with Fabergé. Ovchinnikov's renown was further enhanced when he was awarded a gold medal for his silversmithing at the 1878 Paris Exposition. Literature: Hill G., Smorodinova G.G., & Ulyanova B.L., 'Fabergé and The Russian Master Goldsmiths', New York 1989 Von Habsburg-Lothringen G., & von Solodkoff A., 'Fabergé, Court Jewellers to the Tsars', New York 1979