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Friday, 4th December 2009 (3355 views)

A gold snuff box presented as a gift by Alexander I of Russia in the 19th century has been sold for a five-figure sum at auction.

The Swiss-made presentation box is believed to have been made in 1824 and fetched a winning bid of £13,750 at a sale of Russian art held by Christie's in London yesterday (December 3rd).

It is decorated with an acorn and oak leaf design, as well as being embellished with enamel.

The interior of the box carries an inscription and the object comes with a letter in French to Mr Percival dated September 1824 from Count Christopher Lieven, the Russian ambassador to the Court of St James, on behalf of the emperor.

Tsar Alexander I ruled Russia from 1801 until he died in 1825. He also reigned in Poland from 1815 and sent armies to fight against Napoleon's troops before Russia and France signed a peace treaty uniting the two countries against Britain - which was broken several years later.

 

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