A silver and marble figural inkwell modelled as a cavalier, after a model by Alexander Safonov (1852 - 1913), Grachev, St Petersburg, 1908-1917

modelled as a soldier of Her Majesty's Life Guard Uhlan regiment bearing a sword and standard seated on a horse, the saddle engraved on either side with the crowned cypher for Emperor Nicholas II, the inkwells on either side of the cavalier engraved '1885' and '1910', on a rectangular stepped marble base, a plaque beneath the cavalier engraved with the Cyrillic inscription 'To Arthur Volfridovich Spore from his Uhlan comrades', below which is 'XXV' applied in silver, signed to the base of the silver by the horse's back right hoof, struck with indistinct maker's mark beside the Imperial Warrant, 84 standard

length including base 41cm, 16 1/8 in.; height 40cm, 15 3/4 in.