Important Silversmiths – Keibel
19th Century Imperial Russian 14k gold snuff box, of cartouche form with bombe sides, the base carved out of amethyst, mounted with a gold lid, chased and engraved with foliate scrolls and set with a hand painted enamel plaque surrounded with a thick acanthus leave boarder, shaped thumbpiece.
Hallmarked with Russian 56 gold marks (585 standard), St. Petersburg, French guarantee marks (used 1838-present), Makers mark Indistinct, probably by Keibel.
Reference Number: A5325
Otto Samuel Keibel was born in 1768 in Prussia. He moved to St. Petersburg very young, becoming a guild jeweller in 1797. In 1808 he was named member of the city council. At his death in 1809 his nephew Johann Wilhelm took over the business, which rapidly grew and started receiving commissions by the Imperial Court.
In 1825, Wilhelm was commissioned all the silver ornaments for the chapel of the Mikhailovsky Palace. In 1826 the firm created the crown for the coronation of Alexandra Feodorovna, wife of the Tsar Nicholas I and in 1836 received the Imperial Warrant.
19th Century extremely rare Imperial Russian Order of the White Eagle. Comprising: Sash Badge, Second Type, with scrolls beneath the crown, gold and enamels, with typical wear to the blue enamel on the scrolls. Breast Star, in silver-gilt and enamel, set comes totally complete and in a contemporary fitted case.
Reference Number: A5486
19th Century Imperial Russian 18k gold snuff box, of rectangular form with rounded corners, beautifully engraved with engine turned decoration, lid applied with a cast floral thumbpiece.
Hallmarked with Russian 72 gold marks (750), French import marks (1838-present), inventory number 4894, Makers mark Keibel.
Reference Number: A5325
Starting in 1841 until the end of the 19th century the company was the exclusive official purveyor of state awards for the Capitulum.
Towards the end of the 19th Century the company suffered an increasing competition due to the rise of the House of Fabergé, which received the title of official supplier by Capitulum and Keibel ceased trade in 1910.