Inkwell "Armed Rats" , decorated with the Coat of arms of the city of Moscow depicting George the Victorious on horseback striking a dragon with a spear, the Coat of arms of the Russian Empire depicting the two-headed eagle of the Romanov's house, and two figurines of rats with an axe and a knife in the upper part of the object. Hallmarks: (from left to right): Maker mark Sazikov (Сазиковъ), founded by Pavel (Fedorovich) Sazikov (Павлом Федоровичем Сазиковым) in 1793. Assay maker A.K., Andrey (Antonovich) Kovalsky (Андрей Антонович Ковалский). Silver standard mark 84 for 0.875 silver. Town mark two-headed eagle, Moscow Assay Office. Sazikov received the Imperial warrant in 1846, meaning they were one of a few select firms chosen to supply the Russian Imperial family. Sazikov produced very high quality silver until the Russian revolution of 1917, the firm being run first by Pavel's son Ignaty, later by Ignaty's sons Pavel and Sergei (Watts, "Russian Silversmiths Hallmarks", pg. 27). Historical background: This inkwell was a popular design originally intended for use by a criminal investigators or police officers. The allegorical depiction of figures in the form of armed rats means the struggle between the law and the criminal world. Weight: 212 gr. Rare opportunity. It will be shipped well protected and insured.