Samorodok Silver Cigarette Box

A stunning box covered with reticulated Samorodok silver. By Anthony Gordon Elson, who made items for Asprey, Spink, Hennell’s and Garrards. Hallmarked, London 1977.

Dimensions: 16cm/6¼ inches (width) x 10cm/4 inches (depth) x 4.5cm/1¾ inches (height).

Samorodok is a Russian word meaning 'metal in its natural state'. This method of working gold, silver and other precious metals was made most famous in Russia, by Fabergé, and is a very difficult technique to master.

The distinctive finish is achieved by heating the metal to a temperature just below its melting point before cooling it abruptly in water, the results resembling raw metal ore.