Pair Of Silver Thimbles, Imperial Russia, Late 19th Century

Pair of silver thimbles, Imperial Russia, late 19th century

Pair of solid silver thimbles, finely chased and engraved with floral and geometric motifs, typical of small Russian silverwork of the late 19th century.

Description

Both pieces bear the following hallmarks:
• “84” for the fineness of Russian silver (i.e. 875/1000),
• Head of St. George slaying the dragon facing right — hallmark of the city of Moscow,
• Initials of the master silversmith “И.С” (IS), identified as those of the silversmith Ivan Sergeev, active in Moscow in the years 1880–1900,
• The presence of an 1895 mark on one example confirms the dating of the pair to this period.

One of the thimbles is engraved with plant motifs and a handwritten inscription in Cyrillic, the other more soberly decorated with geometric friezes.
The top is finely hammered for use, with a slight original red patina due to the oxidation of the copper in the hallmarking alloy.

These small objects bear witness to the refinement of everyday life in the Russian bourgeoisie at the end of the 19th century, often offered as gifts or included in travel sewing kits.

Provenance:
Imperial Russia, Moscow, circa 1890–1900.
Material: 875/1000 solid silver.
Hallmarks: title 84, Saint-Georges (Moscow), master silversmith И.С.
Height: 2 cm

Condition:

Good general condition, small deformations from use, original patina preserved.

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