A FINE RUSSIAN MEDAL-SET SILVER, PARCEL-GILT AND NIELLO SNUFFBOX unknown maker, Moscow, circa 1777-1779 Circular, the lid set with a medal depicting Empress Catherine II Alexeievna "The Great" signed Wæchter after a portrait by I.B. Gass, with surrounding inscription in Cyrillic "B.M. Ekaterina II Imperat[ritsa] I samoderzh[itsa] Vseross[isskoi]" and depicting the Empress in profile as an allegory of her accession to the throne on 28 June 1762, the box allover nielloed in geometric patterns and silver gilt, the underside with niello military trophies, struck to interior of base with Moscow marks for 1777-1779. H: 7/8, Dia: 3 5/8 in. Weight: 6.4. oz. t. PROVENANCE: The Collection of Ambassador and Mrs. Alexander Weddell, Richmond, Virginia. Deaccessioned by The Virginia House Museum to benefit future preservation, acquisitions, and care of collections.