Empress Catherine the Great: A paste-set gold-mounted hardstone and enamel Imperial presentation snuff box, Jean Pierre Ador, St Petersburg, 1783

rectangular with cut corners, the lid set with a finely painted oval enamel portrait miniature of Empress Catherine the Great after Feodor Rokotoff, wearing the collar of the Order of St. Andrew and the sash of the Order of St. George, within a paste-set border, on a striated onyx ground framed by a row of alternating cabochon moonstones and rose-cut imitation stones, the sides similarly decorated, the angles with chased foliate motifs set with lavender-coloured imitation stones, the base framed by a gold bead border, the front rim engraved: ADOR A ST PETERSBOURG, maker’s mark, St Petersburg town mark dated 1783, 80 zolotnik (20ct) standard, in a plush fitted case decorated with gold braid and numbered ‘189/3,’

Length 10.5 cm; 4 1/8 in.

Please note that on 27 July 2022 the United States imposed import tariffs on certain Russian goods. This lot may be subject to a tariff upon import into the United States. The amount of the import tariff due is a percentage of the value declared upon entry into the United States.