A Typical Example of an Imperial Russian Period Salt Cellar, made by a Kiev Silversmith in 1893

Here is a very collectable piece of late 19th century Imperial Russian silver - a salt cellar, resting on three ball feet, and with a floral engraving. This pattern seems to be typical of this maker (whose initials are I.E.Z.).

The piece bears the hallmark for '84' (Imperial period solid silver mark), the town mark for Kiev, the maker's mark I.E.Z. (in Cyrillic), and the Kiev assay master's initials C.O. above the date 1893.  

This is a typical Russian salt design, and would have been used both for everyday purposes on the dining table, and for the symbolic ritual of offering bread and salt when guests entered the household.

The salt is in good condition for its age - it bears signs of wear and age (surface scratches to the exterior and interior, a couple of small dints if you look very closely, and the surface of the rim is slightly uneven - see images). It weighs 26 grammes, stands 3.3 cm high (1.3"), and its diameter is 4.6 cm (1.8").