ANTIQUE RUSSIAN GOLD PILLS BOX, 1894
For your viewing, the yellow gold box is decorated along the top with ornate enveloping vine motifs. The hinged lid opens, revealing an engraved date: 'June 9th, 1894.'
HALLMARKS: stamped with '56' gold standard, St. Petersburg mark and 'IB' in Cyrillic for Ivan Britsyn (1852-1912) - Faberge employee.
CONDITION: Very good condition for its age. For further information, please refer to the pictures.
PROVENANCE: 1. From an old collection, representing the THIRD generation of Russian emigration in the USA, Florida; 2. Akiba Galleries, Dania Beach, FL, USA, October 10, 2023 (the winner will receive this information); 3. Our sale of this item adds another layer of provenance. History of sale is very IMPORTANT for serious collection.
DIMENSIONS: 1 7/8 x 1 3/8 inches (5 x 3.5 cm). Weight: 38 grams (24.5 dwt).
ESTIMATED PRICE: $3,000 - $15,000 (significantly lower than today's market price). You have a GREAT CHANCE to purchase a rare item for your collection, and over the years, its price will only INCREASE.
HISTORY of SALES: A few years ago, gold snuff boxes were sold on Live Auctioneers, Sotheby's and Christie's for $12,260 (2 years ago), $14,115 (6 years ago), $22,000 (2 years ago), and $66,683 (2 years ago) - please refer to the screenshots for details. Today, prices have significantly increased compared to those of 5-10 years ago.
WARRANTY: The buyer has 7 days to inspect items valued at up to $5,000 and 15 days for items valued at $5,000 or more. Items can be returned to the seller for a refund; please refer to the Terms for more details.
NO RESERVE: More than 70% of all auctioned items have NO reserve price. Among the remaining items, there is a very reasonable reserve price set.
PAYMENT: Payment can be made with a Credit Card, Zelle, PayPal (for international bidders), Wire Transfer, Check, or Money Order. You can also suggest other methods of payment. Canadian winners can make payments to a Canadian Bank in CAD via Check, Money Order, Wire Transfer, or Interac e-Transfer.
PAY in PARTS - HOW it WORKS: You can pay for any item over a period of 3-6 months. To get started, please make a 10% deposit, and the item will be reserved for you. 10% means - if you won an item for $550, your minimum first payment equals $55. Simply make the deposit using any method listed on the invoice. The remaining balance can be paid in installments over up to 6 months at your convenience. The items will be sent to you once the full payment is made. NO interest will be added. Over the past few years, many people have found this option to be very HELPFUL.
EXCHANGE: If you find an item in our auction that you like, you have the option to exchange it for your collectible items of equivalent estimated value. Additionally, you can use your items as PART of the PAYMENT for a winning item; please feel free to inquire about this new and exciting feature.
FREE SHIPPING worldwide for items valued at $5,000 or more. For other items, domestic shipping costs are $18.85. There are NO pick-up fees, NO handling fees, and NO transportation fees. Combined shipping is available, and the next item will have a shipping fee of ONE DOLLAR.
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WELCOME: We welcome new bidders and will ship the item according to your instructions.
ABSENTEE BIDs: Placing an absentee bid is another way for you to participate if you can't join Live Auction in person. It's straightforward - we will place bids on your behalf as if you were participating in the auction yourself. You can submit absentee bids on multiple lots, and NO additional fees are required. Please email us for details.

A LIFETIME WARRANTY is provided for the originality of this particular item manufactured during the described period of time.
BEST INVESTMENT: If you are an individual or an investment company concerned about preserving your capital in these uncertain times, items with a LIFETIME WARRANTY are the best way to do so. Consider this: traditional banks typically offer annual returns of 1-3% on your funds, while inflation exceeds 5%. In contrast, collectible items with a LIFETIME WARRANTY can yield a minimum profit of 30-50% per year - with no associated risks. Some of our items with a LIFETIME WARRANTY have the potential to generate immediate profits of 100% or even more!! By the way, our estimated price is much lower than the market price for this item now. Please explore our "HISTORY of SALES" section and look at the screenshots for samples of similar items sold at renowned auctions, such as Sotheby's, Christie's, Live Auctioneers, eBay, and more. The choice is YOURS.

HISTORY of THAT TIME: Snuff is a type of smokeless tobacco product made from finely ground or pulverized tobacco leaves. The indigenous populations of Brazil were the first people known to have used ground tobacco as snuff. They would grind their tobacco leaves using a mortar and pestle made of rosewood, where the tobacco would also acquire a delicate aroma of the wood. When snuff-taking was fashionable, the manufacture of snuff accessories was a lucrative industry in several cultures. In Europe, snuff boxes ranged from those made in very basic materials, such as horn, to highly ornate designs featuring precious materials made using state-of-the-art techniques. Since prolonged exposure to air causes snuff to dry out and lose its quality, pocket snuff boxes were designed to be airtight containers with strong hinges, generally with enough space for a day's worth of snuff only. Large snuff containers, called mulls (made from a variety of materials, notably including rams horns decorated with silver), were usually kept on the table.

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