RUSSIAN IMPERIAL SILVER LETTER OPENER, OVCHINNIKOV, 1888-1917
The handle of the knife is decorated with engraving in the style of Ivan Bilibin.
It is depicting the wooden hut in the forest, on the roof of which a huge owl spread its wings.
Russian hallmarks on the blade, '84' silver standard and 'OVCHINNIKOV' in Cyryllic for workmaster - please see information below.
DIMENSIONS: L. 8 1/4 inches (21 cm). Weight: 3 oz (86 grams).
ESTIMATE PRICE: $300 - $3,000.
HISTORY of SALES: A few years ago Russian Imperial silver letter openers were sold on Live Auctioneer for $2,900, $3,600 and $6,000 - please see the screenshots.
OFFER: If an item is NOT SOLD, you can still give us a reasonable offer - please save the link of this page.
SALE: For some reason, 70% of all our items are GOING DOWN in PRICE. Please make a BID. The reserve price is very LOW.
PAYMENT: Payment can be made with PayPal, Credit Card (via PayPal), Zelle, Wire transfer, Check or Money Order.
PAY in PARTS: You can pay for any item during 3-6 months. Just make a 10% deposit and the item will wait for you. We have been offering a possibility of deferring a payment for more than a year now and many people like it and have taken advantage of it.
SHIPPING: Let us Handle Your Shipping. We are one of the few places that offer full service shipping. For your convenience we will ship your item - shipping costs will be included in the invoice.
SHIPPING COST: This is the actual delivery cost. Choose a shipping carrier and a mail service of your preference. Combined shipping is available - next item will be ONE DOLLAR for shipping.
WELCOME: We welcome bidders from ANY country in the WORLD. We will send the item according YOUR instruction.
NEW: Returning customers will have 50% DISCOUNT on shipping.

HISTORY: Jeweller, silversmith, goldsmith, enameller, merchant, industrialist. Born in the family of a serf called Akim Ovchinnikov in the village of Otradnoe in Moscow Province (1830). Sent by Prince Dmitry Volkonsky to study in Moscow (1842), where he served as an apprentice in the jewellery workshop of his brother Andrei (1844-50). Emancipated from serfdom (1850) and married a woman called Marfa (1850). Opened his own workshop with his wife 's dowry of a thousand roubles (1851). Acquired his brother's workshop and opened a factory on First Goncharny (Potters) Lane in Taganka (1853). Employed a staff of four hundred (1854) and six hundred craftsmen and apprentices (1855). Appointed official purveyor to the future Tsar Alexander III (1865), King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy (1873), Grand Duke Mikhail Nikolaevich (1878) and King Christian IX of Denmark (1888). Awarded the Legion d'honneur (1867) and the Order of the Iron Crown (1873). Founded a school for 130 goldsmiths and silversmiths (1871). Opened a factory and shops in St Petersburg at 35 Bolshaya Morskaya Street (1873) and the former premises of Sazikov at 29 Bolshaya Morskaya Street (1900). Member of the Moscow City Duma (1876-88). Died and buried at Kalitniki (Moneybags) Cemetery in Moscow (1888), where his work was continued by his sons Mikhail, Alexander, Pavel and Nikolai (1888-1917). Contributed to exhibitions (from 1865).

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