An 1898-1903 Russian Imperial Silver Box with Badges by Yakov Nikolayevich Lyapunov

Box in silver with twenty-one badges and three order centrepieces affixed to the exterior, the box engraved with numerous inscriptions in Cyrillic characters on the lid and all four side panels on the exterior, with most of the inscriptions covered by the affixed badges and centrepieces. The lid with eleven badges, ten of which are silver with enamels, the eleventh badge in silver along with two enamelled Order of St. Stanislav centrepieces and an enamelled Order of St. Vladimir centrepiece; four badges on the rear panel, three of which are silver with enamels, the fourth badge in silver gilt; one badge on the left panel in silver with enamels, the other in silver with enamels having separated from the body of the box but remains with it; three badges on the right panel, one is silver with enamels, a second is silver gilt and enamels, the third badge in silver gilt; and one badge on the front panel in silver with enamels and missing two badges that originally flanked the front panel badge and have been lost to time. The box is kokoshnik marked on the bottom with a pre-1908 left-facing woman's head (wearing the peasant headdress traditionally referred to as a kokoshnik) within an oval cartouche, to her left is the standard number "84", and marked with the assayer's initials in Cyrillic lettering (Yakov Nikolayevich Lyapunov, St. Petersburg 1898-1903, which also indicates the assay office), along with being kokoshnik marked on the underside of the lid, the inside with a gold-coloured wash. The box measures 86.5 mm x 132 mm x 51 mm, hinged, with most of the enamels intact, dark patina on the silver exterior, minor dents evident on the bottom, near extremely fine.