Athanasius Stepanovich Popov - Snuffbox with Engraved Scenes - Walters 57720

Rendered on the faces of the box are scenes of courting couples. Niello, an alloy of silver, copper, and lead, was rubbed into the engraved scenes and then fired. The darkened areas remained in the depressions when the piece was polished. This technique, dating from the Renaissance, was revived in Russia during the 17th century.