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Soviet Silver Niello Salt Cellar with View of Veliky Ustyug, 875 Silver

aleksei — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 15:07:58 +0000

A decorative Soviet silver salt cellar with traditional niello engraving, featuring a panoramic architectural view of the historic Russian city of Veliky Ustyug.

The salt cellar is of rounded, almost spherical form, with an open upper rim and a flat circular base. The exterior is richly decorated with an engraved and nielloed cityscape extending around the body, depicting churches with onion domes, bell towers, historic buildings and stylised trees.

The composition is framed by ornamental borders with fine geometric engraving. Around the upper edge is the Cyrillic inscription “ВЕЛИКИЙ УСТЮГ” (Veliky Ustyug), identifying the city represented in the decoration.

The dark niello ornament contrasts elegantly with the polished and engraved silver surface. The interior retains its gilt finish, creating a warm golden contrast with the silver exterior.

Historical background:

Veliky Ustyug, in northern Russia, is one of the historic centres of Russian silversmithing and niello decoration.

The local tradition of silver niello work developed particularly strongly during the 18th and 19th centuries and continued through the Soviet period. Veliky Ustyug craftsmen became renowned for their finely engraved silver objects decorated with black niello, frequently depicting architectural landscapes, historic monuments and ornamental compositions.

Niello is a traditional decorative technique in which engraved recesses in the metal are filled with a dark metallic compound, producing a characteristic black design against the silver background.

The present salt cellar reflects this regional artistic tradition through its detailed depiction of Veliky Ustyug’s architectural heritage.

Material:
Silver, niello decoration, gilt interior.

Marks:
Soviet 875 silver standard hallmark and additional maker’s mark on the underside. The precise maker has not been confirmed.

Origin:
USSR, Veliky Ustyug tradition.

Period:
20th century, Soviet period.

Dimensions:
Height: 4.2 cm.
Width: 5.5 cm.
Depth: 5.5 cm.

Weight:
66.3 g.

Condition:
Age-related surface wear, minor scratches and partial wear to the interior gilding, particularly around the upper rim. The niello decoration remains clearly visible. Condition is shown in the photographs.

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