Cleaning Niello and identifying a Russian box.

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Cleaning Niello and identifying a Russian box.

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Author	Topic: Cleaning Niello and identifying a Russian box.
fidda Posts: 45 Registered: Nov 2004	posted 10-06-2005 12:59 PM [01-2339] Hi, Can anyone give me some advice on how to clean an cigar box I just bought that has niello decoration? What is best to use and can the niello decoration wear off with polish or dips? Also I was wondering if anyone can help me with identifying what my object is? I can manage to post pics but it is about 10cm long and 6cm deep and 2cm high it opens from the top and closes with a clasp that turns round in a hole on the top. It is Russian and has a scene of a palace in niello decoration. Inside it is plain, it has no compartments or elastic nor any indication that it ever had, just a plain box. It seems too big for a snuff box could it be a cigar case? Any help is much appreciated. Thanks. IP: Logged
sazikov2000 Posts: 254 Registered: Jan 2005	posted 10-06-2005 02:08 PM How to clean Russian niello/silver boxes: As a collector of Russian silver of all typs, my cleaning advice is: First wash the box in some dish washing solution with a soft toothbrush to delete the dirt and grease. After that polish it with cotton wool and some silver polish paste. Do not polish the gilded interior! If you are satisfied with the results of your polishing, spray the box with a tile cleaning spray, using again the soft toothbrush to get rid of the remaining polishing paste, rinse in clear water, dry and polish with only cotton wool again. That is all. Never use dips!! If you post some fotos I can tell you what you have. It is either a cigarette box, a snuff box or a portemonnaie (money bag). Please try to post some fotos of the box and the hallmarks or make some sketches - than I can tell you where it was made by whom. Hope that helps. Sazikov 2000 IP: Logged
fidda Posts: 45 Registered: Nov 2004	posted 10-06-2005 02:21 PM Thanks for the information. Also will polish like Silvo wear away the niello decoration? I am afraid to polish it as yet since there is some tarnish in the architectural scene background and polishing that means inevitably polishing the surrounding niello decoration. Thanks IP: Logged
sazikov2000 Posts: 254 Registered: Jan 2005	posted 10-06-2005 02:49 PM With normal silver polish you can not harm niello - so use it until everything is clear and without oxidation. Sazikov 2000 IP: Logged
fidda Posts: 45 Registered: Nov 2004	posted 10-06-2005 03:08 PM thanks once again. IP: Logged
sazikov2000 Posts: 254 Registered: Jan 2005	posted 10-06-2005 04:08 PM Here is your sketch which you sent me by e-mail: As far as I can see it is a cigarette case. This folding type you have has no hooks for rubber bands. If the overall condition is good to very good - you have something very fine and rather rare! The hallmarks would be interesting, maybe you can post fotos or make a sketch. Hope that helps. Sazikov 2000 IP: Logged

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