Featured Russian silver bear head clock

Ran across this piece for sale, any opinion on the maker?
Sorry the photos aren't better the seller doesn't seem to know how to take good photos
Thanks Steve

 

There has been so much Russian silver faked Id be leery of this unless its dirt cheap.

 

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Lot 90 " style="border-radius: 0px; margin: 0px; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.5; overflow: visible; appearance: button; font-weight: 400; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); vertical-align: middle; user-select: none; border-width: initial; border-style: none; border-color: initial; padding: 0.375rem 0px; transition: color 0.15s ease-in-out 0s, background-color 0.15s ease-in-out 0s, border-color 0.15s ease-in-out 0s, box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; width: 50px; cursor: pointer; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif !important;">
Lot 91
Lot 92 " style="border-radius: 0px; margin: 0px; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.5; overflow: visible; appearance: button; font-weight: 400; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); vertical-align: middle; user-select: none; border-width: initial; border-style: none; border-color: initial; padding: 0.375rem 0px; transition: color 0.15s ease-in-out 0s, background-color 0.15s ease-in-out 0s, border-color 0.15s ease-in-out 0s, box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; width: 50px; cursor: pointer; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif !important;">

















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Sold:
$0.00
Estimate: $12,000 - $15,000
September 27, 2008 11:00 AM EDT
Pittsfield, MA, US
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Additional Details
Description:

PAVEL AKIMOV OVCHINNIKOV RUSSIAN ENAMELED SILVER BEAR INKWELL. A wonderfully crafted piece by the well known silversmith Pavel Akimov Ovchinnikov, Moskow 1868, in 84 zol (875/1000) silver, this piece shows a large bear resting on its stomach, with its head on the left arm and rear legs splayed, sitting on top of polished flat lid. The bear shows great detail and proportion in the fur and ruby eyes. The lid on which the bear rests shows a blue enameled border and a beaded silver edge. Under the lid is a double inkwell, polished and clean and the signature is also found. Below, the two platforms are decorated in beaded enamel and stylized floral and geometric patterns in white and 3 tones of blue. The very bottom platform is formed from black marble. 11.5"W x 5"H x 4"D.

 

I think this information will help you.

 

or confuse you.......!
those siggys look different to me...

 

Think first might be imperial & second Soviet. @Figtree3 ?

 

what is he asking ????
is it worth the risk?
is there any risk?

R U flush ????

 

I'm not saying i'm bullish or bearish on this piece-but whats the asking price & does the site & seller seem legit ? no need to get into some complex hairy situation w/ a suspect seller.

 

I don't have much time right now to assess them... am about to leave for a while. I think they both have the double-headed eagle to the left of the name... if so, that would mean both were from the Imperial period. And both appear to be the same maker

 

This is an Imperial Russia or Tsarist Russia item. Ovchinnikov was a well known and respected maker and retailer of silver items and jewelry. He used to have a big workshop and was a supplier to the imperial court. His mark is very much discussed on relevant Russian forums, a lot of items bear his name.

This is a silver item, 84 zolotnik mark, made in Moscow before 1889, it bears Moscow city mark, the coat of arms of Moscow before 1889. The assayer's mark is the one next to Ovchinnikov mark, to the right, it starts with A and the next letter I cannot see. I will try to find who he was.

 

The last photo in the original post shows the full marks.
Thanks for dropping by!

 

Thanks, Figtree3!

So from left to right:

two headed eagle (symbol of Russian Empire and Romanov dynasty), as far as I am informed, only suppliers to the Imperial court had the right to put it on their items, this right was granted by the Emperor with a special order. Ovchinnikov was one of them, also Faberge was, there are others, too;

below the eagle is the name of P.Ovchinnikov in Cyrillic (Pavel Ovchinnikov), so the item was indeed made in Ovchinnikov's workshop (he used to sell other workshops items, too). He was one of the biggest producers and retailers of silver items in Tsarist Russia.
Some info about Ovchinnikov in English
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...kQFnoECA4QAQ&usg=AOvVaw0r4Vy3ggWmxQz5sUH0V7ar

Edit: next right is the assayer mark in rectangular cartouche, below his initials is the year of putting the mark 1885, i.e. the making of the item. About the assayer's mark, I need a better photo but it seams either АФ or ЛФ.

Next is 84 zolotnik mark, 84 zolohnik is equal to 875 silver content,

Next is the city mark of Moscow, the coat of arm of Moscow before 1889, St. George with a spear.

 

Thank you @Figtree3 & thank you @IvaPan

The bear is beautifully rendered; you can tell this is a high quality item.

 

Nice-If you found this on FBM I'd better change search parameters !

 

The name is the same П.Овчинников P.Ovchinnikov, the silver marks are different as the items were produced in different times when different marking rules were in force. Before 1899 the silver mark was only a number, after that it also had a Kokoshnik head ( till 1908 looking left, after that looking right)

 

Could be just the photo, but the clock face on the OP's item looks more contemporary or not as finely done somehow. It doesn't seem to have the same quality as the rest --but again could be the photo.

 

The clock pic looked a little newer to me too,but it could be a whimsical child-like image of a Russian fairy tale or folk tale.Any ideas
@IvaPan ?

 

Yeah not dirt cheap

 

The date is 1885

 

AND I think you've all got it all pretty well worked out, I tried enlarging, I didn't think the marks were all that clear to try and clarify, but......I did enlarge 2X...and tried to remove noise....not all that successful......there seems to be a date in second image down, square after the name that seems to say Ax something & under that either 1888 or maybe 1988, but SO NOT Clear to me.......looks I think more like 1888......???? Then the 84 after that, and last the LION?




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