comprising a Letter Rack, a Blotter, and an Inkstand fitted with an Inkwell and two small Boxes -- one for stamps and the other containing a stamp moistener -- the superstructure of the stand holding a Paper Knife with silver blade, and a Pen; the Letter Rack finely enameled with two richly dressed and well armed medieval guards before a wooden door flanked by heavy, colorfully enameled columns, the Inkwell with conforming decoration and enameled on the front with a portrait bust of a beautiful young boyarina (decorative cover lacking), the Stamp Box enameled with images of five and seven kopek stamps en plein, the shaped Inkstand enameled with a winged dragon amongst brightly colored floral and geometric ornament

with the scratched inventory numbers 690 and 691, the blotter and pen apparently unmarked

Measurements
length of tray 13 1/2 in.

Alternate measurements
34.2 cm

CATALOGUE NOTE
Rückert's workshop produced a small number of these beautifully enameled desk sets, each with slightly different decoration and a complete pictorial set including a letter rack appears only very rarely on the market. For other examples, see Sotheby's, New York, April 26, 2006, lot 272 and Sotheby's, New York, December 15, 1989, lot 345.