19th Century Russian Silver Presentation Tobacco Jar

• Fleur-De-Lis - The fleur-de-lis is a stylized lily or iris flower with
  
  three petals that has been used as a decorative motif for thousands of years. It
  
  often appears in Christian iconography symbolising the Holy Trinity and as an
  
  emblem that reflects the purity of the Virgin Mary. In decorative art and antiques
  
  decoration, the fleur-de-lis is often used as a symbol of elegance, refinement,
  
  and good taste.
  
  
  
  
  The fleur-de-lis has a rich history and in ancient times, it
  
  was associated with royalty, purity, and the divine, and it was used as a
  
  symbol of the French monarchy for many centuries.
  
  
  
  
  It is a common design element in ceramics, silverware, jewellery,
  
  furniture, and other decorative objects, and it can be found in many different
  
  styles and forms.
  
  

• Acanthus - A stylized leaf motif, one of the primary decorative elements of classical Greek and Roman architecture, derived from the genus of flowering plants in the family Acanthaceae, native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Mediterranean area. It is a common element in classical Greek and Roman design, and is often seen in Corinthian and Composite order columns and used as a decorative element in English, European and Australian furniture, particularly on the curve of a leg, and as decoration for a corbel.
• Cartouche - An ornamental panel in the form of of a shield, oval or rectangular scroll with curling edges. It may be carved into the back of a chair or the top of a sideboard, or present on a piece of silver or jewellery, and contain the initials of the original owner, heraldic symbols, or some other inscription, such as the details of a presentation.
  
  In ceramics the term defines the central area of a vase or similar with a decorative border in one of the shapes above, into which a decorative scene or figures have been painted.
• Finial - An architectural decoration, found on the upper parts of of an object. On furniture they are usually found on pediments, canopies and shelf supports. On smaller ceramic or silver items, such as spoons, they may decorate the top of the item itself, or the lid or cover where they provide a useful handle for removal.
  
  Finials have a variety of shapes and forms. They may be urn-shaped, baluster shaped round or spiral, but usually taper into an upper point. Many real life shapes may also be used as finials, such as pineapples, berries, pinecones, buds, lotus and acorns. Sometimes animals such as a lion are depicted, or fish and dolphins.
• Frieze - An architectural term denoting the flat, shaped or convex horizontal surface of furniture, between the architrave and the cornice, usually found on a cabinet or bookcase, or on desks and tables where it may include drawers, the area between the top and the legs. In ceramics, the term refers to the banding, of usually a repeating pattern, on the rims of plates and vases.

This item has been included into following indexes:

• Russian
  • precious objects 312
  • silver items 280