Silver cigarette case with finely painted enamel miniature of a Russian peasant girl by Sazikov, made in St. Petersburg around 1899. 2 1/4 x 4 3/8 in. (5,7 x 11,7 cm).

The enameled cover is marked with Imperial warrant, P.SAZIKOV, and 88 zolotniks standard with St. Petersburg coat of arms. The back is with master’s initials ‘AK’ and 84 standard with St. Petersburg assayer’s initials of Yakov Liapunov. The case is struck with both pre-1899 and post-1899 assay marks. Apparently, the enameled half was hallmarked in 1898 and the plain half – in the late 1898 or early 1899.