Cigarette Box

[xochitl]

I've been lurking here for a long time, but this is my first post.

I found a Russian Cigarette Case at a garage sale in Mexico, where I live. I did some internet research, the hallmarks are B.C (V.S) 1886/84/P.A. (sorry I don't have cyrillic), nice troika scene on the front, a little worn on the edges, back and sides have a basket weave design in nerillo(?), I think. I paid 5 mexican pesos for it (.5 USD). It has a mostly scratched out cyrillic inscription inside.

The silver is very tarnished and it has one small blotch right on top of the tophatted gentlemen who is a passenger in the troika.

My question: How should I clean it? Regular silver polish?

I do know that the assayer (B.C) is Victor Sevinkov

I am very excited by this find.

Thank you for any advice.

[georgecl]

Hi Xochitl,

Sounds like a nice piece..
I would use simichrome polish for the silver. use caution around the neillo, sometimes, if there is damage to will come out..I would not polish the inside if there is a gold wash,this will also polish off..

Post a pic. if you can I'd like to see it

George

[xochitl]

Thank you, George. I will try to post a picture.

Xochitl