An impressive Russian snuffbox featuring a medallion of Empress Catherine II on the lid.
The lid of the snuffbox is set with a medallion depicting Catherine the Great as Minerva, Patroness of the Arts, with the inscription “By the Grace of God Catherine the Second, Empress and Autocrat of All Russia”, signed WAECHTER.
The design is an allegory of her accession to the throne on June 28, 1762, with the portrait based on the work of I.B. Gass.
The mark struck inside indicate Moscow production.
A very interesting piece, notable both in the context of the antiques market and from a numismatic perspective.
Silver, diameter 92 mm, height 16 mm
