Imperial Russian silver souvenir cigarette case

Updated September 20, 2026

Imperial Russian silver souvenir cigarette case, heavily embellished with applied commemorative insignia, miniature badges, and names from the wartime era. Dimension:9cm x 7cm. One side Top Center: A red enamel Ottoman Empire star and crescent moon token, a common souvenir from diplomatic visits, travel, or the Balkan/Ottoman military campaigns. Top Left Characters: Three Chinese characters reading ? (Shòu - Longevity), ? (Fú - Good Fortune / Happiness), and ? (Lù - Prosperity). These characters represent the "Three Lucky Stars" in Chinese culture, wishing the owner a long and prosperous life. Top Right: A beautifully detailed miniature Imperial Russian officer's shashka or sabre sword.Center Bird: A finely detailed, colorful enamel bird appliqué perched on a branch, symbolizing nature or good tidings. Bottom Left Imagery: A collection of small personal tokens including an ornate structural pillar, a green enamel four-leaf clover (for luck), a small oval gemstone or cameo plaque, and a tiny ladybug charm (traditionally a European symbol for good luck). Engraved Names: Written in an elegant, sweeping cursive script are personal facsimile signatures or place names, including the distinct engraving. Gemstones: The case is further embellished with a deep red oval-cut garnet or ruby on the left and a brilliant clear faceted paste stone or diamond embedded in the bottom right corner The reverse side : Top Left: A miniature representation of the German Imperial War Ensign (Reichskriegsflagge) flown by the Imperial German Navy and army during World War I.Center (Gold Medallion): A religious token depicting Sanctus Laurentius (Saint Lawrence) holding a gridiron and cross, a saint traditionally associated with protection, courage, and enduring trials by fire.Bottom Left: A circular German Red Cross (Deutsches Rotes Kreuz) medal or badge dated 1914–1915. It features a central red cross flanked by the initials "W" and "R" beneath a crown, standing for Wilhelm Rex (Kaiser Wilhelm II).Bottom Center: The royal monogram of Kaiser Wilhelm II topped by the Imperial Crown.Bottom Right: Crossed axes beneath a skull, accompanied by the dates 1915–1916, which is characteristic of pioneer (combat engineer) or specialized assault units.Engravings and Numbers: The piece features a badge with the number 79 (likely representing an infantry or artillery regiment), alongside script names like "Otto Mohnke" and "Olly". Stamped in Cyrillic initials (?.?), this is the hallmark of the Imperial Russian silversmith Vasily Oleinikov (??????? ?????????), a prominent Moscow-based master craftsman active from roughly 1898 to 1908. His workshop specialized in high-quality silver smalls, particularly fine cigarette cases and snuff boxes.

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